MINGORA: The residents of Rang Mohallah and Malookabad have complained of shortage of drinking water, saying supply of water to their areas has been suspended for the last five days.

They said that supply of water had been suspended to Rang Mohallah, Malookabad, Raja Abad, Barama Gumabat Maira, Amankot Mela Road and other areas since the first day of Eidul Fitr. They said that they had to fetch water from long distances.

“Water supply was suspended on the first day of Eidul Fitr due to which we fetched water from the Swat River,” said Saifullah, a resident of Malookabad.

The residents of the areas complained that other people were enjoying Eidul Fitr while they were busy in carrying water from different areas to fulfil their needs.

“I was excited to celebrate Eid and woke up happily but my mother asked me to fetch water from a spring down in Mingora. I went with my brother to fetch water and continued it till afternoon which made me tired and exhausted,” said Faisal Ahmad, a 14-year-old resident of Rang Mohallah. He added that his first day of Eidul Fitr was made tiresome.

The residents of the areas said that they reported the issue to WSSC and MPA of the area but they did nothing except verbal promise to resolve the problem.

“This the fifth day that our water supply has been suspended despite the promises of WSSC officials and our MPA. Due to the water shortage, we could not enjoy Eidul Fitr,” said Mehir Ali Shah, a resident of Rang Mohllah. He added that more 40,000 people affected by suspension of water supply to the areas.

Mian Shahid Ali, an official of WSSC, when contacted, said that the main pipeline supplying water to Rang Mohallah and Malookabad burst on the first day of Eid due to which water supply to those areas remained suspended.

“Our team is busy in repairing the main pipeline and hopefully the repair work will be completed in a couple of days after which water supply will be resumed to the affected areas,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2019