SHANGLA: Most of the natural springs in mountainous areas of Shangla have dried up due insufficient rains and snowfall this season, creating problem of drinking water shortage for the residents.

Shangla district mostly consists of mountainous terrain and the local people depend on natural springs for water for drinking and domestic purposes. Insufficient snowfall in winter and a long delay in rains have been cited as reasons for drying up of the springs.

Jan Alam, a resident of Bishm Landai Jai, said there was one water spring which served 25 houses in the area.

He said that water quantity in the spring had decreased significantly and members of each household had to wait for over 10 days for their turn to get water.

He said they had not alternative source of water, but to buy it or bring it from the Indus River.

Nisar Ahmad, a resident of Dunai, Karora, said that they had been facing water shortage as the springs in the area had dried up.

He said the situation had forced them to bring water from the river a few kilometres away though it was not fit for drinking.

He said there were no water supply schemes of the public health department in the area and their only source of drinking water was natural springs.

Mian Bacha, a resident of Mian Kallay, claimed that eight of the 12 natural springs in the village had dried up.

The residents have demanded of the government to take immediate steps for resolving the water shortage issue in the district.

WILDFIRE: Wildfire erupted in the mountains of Alpuri near Hafiz-i-Alpuri’s shrine here on Saturday. However, the blaze was extinguished by the Rescue 1122 team after hours of hectic efforts.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Rasool Khan said that after receiving call from a citizen, they acted immediately and brought the fire under control.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2022