Suhail Rather
Bandipora, Jan 12 (KNS): A discovery of a dead animal has shocked Bandipora residents in north Kashmir, raising concerns over the consumption of safe drinking water.
Notably, the dead animal, with some suggesting was a Puppy or Jackal, was discovered on Saturday after Aloosa villagers suffered a supply blockade for two days.
Locals on Sunday shared they found the dead animal in a 4-inch drinking water pipe near the water reservoir after inspecting the reasons for the blockade.
The water reservoir, which is 35-40 years old, locals shared has never been upgraded or repaired, with rust damaging the supply lines too, over the years.
Locals were apprehensive the dead animal had been inside the water reservoir for at least six months, and they had been consuming the contaminated water without their knowledge.
Mohammad Ramzan Bhat, a local, said, “We don’t know when the animal died, but its condition suggests it has been there for more than six months. We have been drinking that water, and it’s alarming to think about the health risks we’ve been exposed to.”
The locals said the faithful were frustrated as they are apprehensive their prayers have been "invalidated," as suggested by the scholars.
The residents said the incident happened even when locals made "repeated requests" to the concerned department for the upgradation of the water scheme for years, but those please "always fell on deaf ears.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"
Mohammad Yousuf, another resident, said, “This is not the first time an animal has been found dead in the reservoir."
He said, "I don’t understand why this scheme is not under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The roof is broken, and it’s affecting our health.”
The issue was also flagged by MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat. He criticized the department's lack of accountability and recommended the aging water reservoir be upgraded.
The discovery has raised serious concerns about the safety and quality of drinking water in the area, and residents have demanded immediate action from the authorities to rectify the situation.
Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Department Bandipora, Mutayib Ahmad, said, "There has been an incidence of blockade of supply in Illahipora of Aloosa on Friday, which took a day for the department to locate and a baby kitten was removed from 4" dia supply main."
The service reservoir and lines stand sanitized, and the normal supply shall be resumed today, he said.
He said he has, "ordered to carry out necessary testing of the supplies to ensure no contamination is there."
Besides this, any necessary plugging of any possible ingress points of the reservoir has been taken up through the stage contractor. (KNS)