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Frozen pipes plunge Bhaderwah village into deep water crisis

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 1/12/2021 12:30:42 PM

KAMRAN KHAN Bhadarwah Jan 11 As Chenab region particularly Bhadarwah Valley in hilly Doda district faces the harshest winters in years, residents of Sunote Village in Thubba Panchayat are beset with new problems. Frozen taps and overground gravity lines have plunged the area into a severe water crisis leaving villagers to travel miles in search of potable water in sub zero temperature. Sunote village which is located on a hilly slope in dense cedar forest 25 km from Bhadarwah town, even the water supply lines have frozen as the region has been witnessing sub-zero temperatures with mercury dipping to a record low in 28 years in Bhadarwah Valley. As the night temperature hovered below the sub-zero levels continuously for more than two months, it had a cascading effect on the water supply lines in far-off areas of the Valley like Sunote village. Sunote village, which consists of nearly two dozen houses, including 6 tribal Gujjar families, women folk of these families (mostly farmers and cattle rarer) have no other option but to trek the treacherous terrain of nearly 2 km in groups to collect snow and later boil it to water for day today use and their cattle from the forest and shaddy areas where snow remains accumulated for longer period. This is the only choice they have, as political representatives and administration are allegedly mute spectators despite several centrally sponsored flagship schemes especially for downtrodden sections and those living in faroff villages. "I assure you that the potable water supply to Sunote village will be restored at the earliest and we will also try and look other natural resources to tap them for permanent solution," Officer added.