shik's Ramkund goes waterless in 130 years, pilgrims worst hit

shik (Maharashtra), April 7: Ramkund, the sacred bathing spot on the Godavari river here where pilgrims take a dip and perform various rituals, has gone dry for the first time in 130 years due to acute water shortage, a top official said on Thursday. Thousands of pilgrims expected to converge here for a holy dip on Gudi Padwa on April 8 — the first day of Chaitra month marking the beginning of the new year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar — would therefore be uble to do so. “Tomorrow, (Friday) on the occasion of the auspicious Gudi Padwa, thousands of pilgrims expected to turn up at Ramkund will not be able to take the holy dip, at least till July-end,” shik Municipal Corporation’s Deputy Mayor Gurmeet Bagga told IANS. The cemented Ramkund has now become a playground for children who play cricket and football there, Bagga said. The civic body seems to have run out of options available to replenish the water in the holy reservoir in the river bed. It is now toying with the idea of digging borewells on the river banks in a bid to replenish the Ramkund — which is also the main pilgrimage centre during the Kumbh Mela held here. However, the project depends on several factors, including religious sentiments and cost. (IANS)