"No water, no electricity": Residents of Shankargarh battles acute water crisis amid ongoing heatwave
Prayagraj, May 23
Residents in Uttar Pradesh's Shankargarh block are battling an acute water crisis amid the ongoing heatwave. As the temperatures rising above 40 degree celcius across the state, locals are being forced to walk around 10 kilometres daily to fetch water.
"There is a major problem here. We have no water facility and no electricity either. This issue happens all the time... We always have to bring water from far away, travelling at least 10 kilometres to get it... This problem has been going on for years, but no one is listening to us... 150 people are living here," a local said.
Addressing the concerns over water scarcity in the Shankargarh block, Additional District Magistrate Vinita Singh said the administration has issued instructions for an immediate review of the arrangements.
"We've made special efforts regarding that. We've spoken to them via video, and we'll get back to them. Instructions have been issued from here, asking them to review the arrangements and, if necessary, get tankers delivered immediately. They should immediately repair any hand-held farms that require repairs. If reboring is possible in that area, get it done," she told ANI.
Meanwhile, several parts of Northern, Central and Western India are currently locked in the grip of a punishing heatwave, forcing regional administrations to enact emergency countermeasures.
Heat wave conditions are very likely to occur during the next 6 days, as per IMD's daily weather report and forecast bulletin. "Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions prevailed in few pockets over East Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha; Heat wave conditions in many pockets of Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and Himachal Pradesh; in some pockets of East Madhya Pradesh; in isolated pockets of Uttarakhand, Odisha, Punjab, West Uttar Pradesh & Coastal Andhra Pradesh," said IMD.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Basic amenities like water and electricity are fundamental rights. Shankargarh is not some remote forest - it's in Prayagraj district. Why are our leaders only active during elections? 🤔 The local administration should immediately deploy water tankers and restore power, not just give statements on video calls.
This is the reality of rural India that nobody talks about. While cities have malls and ACs, villages are literally dying of thirst. The heatwave is brutal across UP right now - I'm in Lucknow and it's unbearable. Can't imagine what these people are going through. The authorities should at least ensure hand pumps are repaired ASAP ⚡
I appreciate the ADM's response but 'review' and 'instructions' are just words. The real test is whether tankers reach Shankargarh today and whether those hand pumps get fixed. With temperatures crossing 44°C, this is literally life and death. Let's see if the administration acts or if this becomes just another forgotten news story 🙏
This is criminal negligence. The problem has been going on for years and nobody listened? Why does it take media pressure for basic governance? The heatwave is affecting millions across North India, and Shankargarh is just the tip of the iceberg. We need a comprehensive water management plan for such regions, not temporary fixes every summer.
I'm genuinely shocked reading this. Walking 10 km in 40°C+ heat for water is inhumane. The administration talking about 'video calls' and 'review' while people are literally suffering is just not acceptable. Immediate action needed - tankers, repairs
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