Dadeldhura, February 29

Dadeldhura folks have been reeling under acute shortage of drinking water after local water sources went dry due to the long drought in the district.

Dadedhura residents have been facing the drought for eight months now.

Local Tek Bahadur Khatri of Aalital VDC said, “The long drought has adversely affected local cultivation.” Villagers at Aalital, Jogbudha, Ganeshpur and Sirsha, among other VDCs of the district, have been worried after water sources started to dry up. “The drying of decade-old water sources has worried us,” he informed.

Laxmi Roka Magar another local of Niuli wondered, “How are we supposed to eke out our living at a time when water sources have gone dry and ours crops are wilting for want of water?”

Local teacher Chintamani Gautam said water shortage had also affected teaching-learning activities in the schools. “Students miss their classes as they have to go fetch water and wait for long hours at the nearby water spout,” he said.

He said the number of girl students taking leave to fetch water was higher compared to the boys.

Rabindra KC, chairman of Khalanga Drinking Water, said the district was also reeling under acute shortage of drinking water.