NAWABSHAH, Jan 31: Residents of the city are facing hardships due to an acute shortage of drinking water prevailing here for a week.

Residents of Gharibabad, Essapura, Manuabad, Mariam Road, Police Line, Qazi Ahmed More, Society and Bhangwar, Taj Mehran and Azeem colonies are the worst affected.

The Gujrah Canal, supplying water to the city, has become dry and water purification plants have been closed. Executive engineer, Nusrat division of the irrigation department, Mohammad Ali Shaikh, told this correspondent that the canal had been closed due to annual maintenance and water would be released into it after February 6.

The residents have called upon the district and taluka nazim to take notice of the problem and make alternate arrangements for supply of drinking water.