Dadeldhura, April 28

Locals in Bagkhor, Dadeldhura district headquarters, have been reeling under acute drinking water crisis for the last one week after wildfires in different forests destroyed water pipes.

Residents of Bagkhor are compelled to fetch water from the local river after walking for four hours. The locals are facing additional problems as the prolonged drought has made things even worse.

It is said that dozens of hotels are on the verge of closure due to obstruction of water supply. Proprietor, Bhoj Raj Awasthi of a hotel, said that locals were compelled to buy water at an inflated price.

“I am compelled to operate the hotel only for daily meals,’’ he said. He added that drinking water cost Rs 10 per litre and it had become hard to operate the hotel.

Dadeldhura Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary Khem Raj Awasthi said that an epidemic would spread in the area if the water supply remained irregular for some more days.

“Some who are well-off can afford to buy the water and even buy mineral water, but the poor are compelled to drink polluted water,” he added.

He further informed that the area would undoubtedly turn into a diarrhoea-affected area if the problem was not solved soon.

It is said that more than 160,000 litres of water is needed in the district headquarters on a daily basis.

Former Chairman Govinda Khadyat of Hotel Entrepreneurs Association said that the headquarters was facing a very acute problem due to water crunch.

Meanwhile, Khalanga Drinking Water Chairman Rabindra KC said that a team had been deployed to the areas. He further informed that the team would accomplish its works within some days.

He said that it was very difficult to fit pipes that the fire had destroyed.