Uri, August 14: At a time when there is a spike in COVID-19 across Kashmir, doctors and patients at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Boniyar in this border town of north Kashmir’s are facing an acute shortage of water.
Catering a population of over 85,000 livelihoods, the center has over 16 doctors posted there.
According to doctors at PHC, they have been suffering for the last month. “There is no water supply and we are facing a number of hardships,” said a doctor to GNS, wishing not to be named.
“On Thursday while conducting a rapid antigen test the doctors had to wash their hands but unfortunately, they couldn’t and had to go to nearby nallah. It is a very pathetic condition here,” he said.
Another doctor said that a PHE water tanker was called yesterday after making a number of pleas to the department. “But unfortunately it couldn’t lift the water to the first floor so that it could be reserved in the tanks. Later, we have to collect it in utensils and buckets,” he said.
He said that they have learned that the water supply was being cut by some locals and diverted to their fields. “The PHE department should look into it,” he said.
Reports said that Warikah COVID center has been receiving the contaminated water supply for the last some time due to the mixture of gypsum in it.
Dr Parvaiz Masoodi, BMO Boniyar acknowledged the matter and said he has taken up the matter with the concerned department. “I hope the matter will be resolved soon,” he said.
Nasir Ahmad Wani, AEE PHE, Uri said, “Since there have been no rains for a long time it has caused the water scarcity. The service has been restored at the center”.
