Ramechhap, February 18

Okhreni folks are reeling under acute water shortage as the water sources in the area started drying up after the April powerful earthquake in Ramechhap.

Though prolonged water crisis in the area was somewhat resolved with new water sources emerging after the devastating earthquake, the sources started drying up abruptly from the third week of January.

“All the water sources in the area have dried up after the April and May earthquakes. Shortage of water has hit the locals very hard,” lamented Bal Kumar Thapa, a local.

“Hence, we have no option but to walk more than two/three hours to fetch a pitcher of water,” he lamented.

Similarly, adjoining Rampur also has been hit hard due to shortage of water. “We have to spend the whole day for a single pitcher of water,” said local Shyam Lal Shrestha.

As they cannot fetch water in the daytime due to long queues at water sources, the women remain vigilant during night to fetch water from wells and taps.

Sometimes, the locals miss their school and office while queuing for water, said Sita Lama of Rampur, Daijor.