Shortage of drinking water in flood affected areas

A Correspondent

Agartala, June 22: Shortage of drinking water and fear of water borne diseases are gripping the large population of areas which have been recently affected by flood. People who returned home after spending days in relief camps are now running around to collect drinking water as in many places the normal water supply system has been disrupted and is yet to be restored.

A report from severely affected areas like Kumarghat, Kanchanpur, Ambassa and Khowai said the government machineries are active in arranging drinking water for faraway places but it is too inadequate compared to the demand. Taking advantage of the situation a section of the packaged drinking water sellers stated brisk business and charging of higher prices. The rural areas that are often dependent on bore wells for drinking water are now contaminated. A report from Patcherthal said due to drinking of contaminated water many are falling ill and fear of epidemic is looming large in the area.

However, Alok Dewan, in-charge of Kumarghat Hospital ensured regarding the availability of adequate measures to prevent any major outbreak of any disease and moreover regular health camps are being organised in the affected areas.

In Kanchanpur the water supply system got damaged as a newly constructed boundary wall Kanchanpur Sub-divisional Hospital collapsed on the reservoir pipe of the Water treatment Plant situated adjacent to the hospital. This has forced the people to depend on water of nearby ponds, lakes and rivers. The work to restore water supply system started it will take few more days.