Dakshinpuri in South Delhi has been hit by a serious water crisis, residents say there is not enough water for drinking, bathing; DJB reacts | Today’s news

Dakshinpuri in the South Delhi region is among the areas reeling under a severe water crisis as temperatures in the capital crossed 45 degrees. Visuals shared on social media showed a number of empty buckets lined up in the area, while residents complained of not receiving water supply for months.

Delhi has been reeling under heat waves for the past few days, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in several areas, leading to heatstroke, extremely dry conditions and warm nights.

Read also | Delhi water crisis update: DJB warns of water shortage till February 4

“This is Dakshinpuri in Ambedkar Nagar sector-5. There is a serious water crisis here. Water does not come for months and when it does, it is contaminated like sewage…,” a resident told IANS.

About 5,000 residents across several blocks in Dakshinpuri are facing water shortages, according to the Times of India.

The water crisis in Dakshinpuri Block 10 is such that several domestic workers have to seek permission from employers to bathe at their workplaces, TOI reported.

Ishita, who works as a domestic help in Kalkaji, told TOI, “I somehow convinced the owner where I work to allow me to take a shower there.” She added: “Sometimes I take my little sister with me. But how long can this go on?”

Read also | Delhi Water Crisis: Supply hit by drop in production in Wazirabad and Chandrawal

Meanwhile, Gurmeet Singh (30) let it be known that he had not taken a proper bath in a week. “It’s hard to believe but it’s the reality. We stink here and in this weather water is the most basic need,” he said.

“Forget everything else, we don’t even have enough water to drink. How long are we going to buy water? We have been buying it for more than a month,” he told the newspaper.

The report claimed that the only relief for many residents is the tap at the Shree Shiv Krishan Mandir near their block. Once the supply starts in the evening, residents rush in with drums, buckets and bottles, leading to chaos, he added.

Residents said that the water is often dirty and black, but people still collect it so that it can at least be used for toilets.

Read also | Desalination can ease India’s water storage constraints and its rural water crisis

“DJB and the government are working around the clock”

A Delhi Jal Board (DJB) official told TOI that, “Despite reduced availability of raw water from surface sources, DJB and the government are working round the clock to ensure minimum inconvenience to people.”

“On an average, around 6,500 tanker runs are being made every day to ensure that water reaches the affected areas across Delhi. We are working on urgent solutions to improve the situation,” a DJB official said.

Read also | Delhi Water Crisis: Supply hit by drop in production in Wazirabad and Chandrawal

At least 200-250 kilograms of fish die in Sanjay Lake

Sanjay Lake in Trilokpuri witnessed a heartbreaking sight as hundreds of dead fish were spotted floating on the dwindling water surface as the falling water level and lack of oxygen made survival impossible for the aquatic life.

Describing the harrowing scene, Bhavesh Sarkar, a guard assigned to maintain the garden, told PTI, “I came here this morning. They called us yesterday but we couldn’t then. I came today at 9 am and saw that all the fish had died.”

“It happened because of lack of water. The water level is very low and the water is extremely hot because of the high temperature, that’s why the fish are dying. There were at least 200-250 kilos of fish here,” he said.

“We have removed some, and the rest will also be cleaned by the evening. It has been at least two and a half to three months since the water stopped coming here. I don’t know what the problem is. Previously, when there was water, we worked here regularly. We have been working here for about six years,” he added.

Dehydrated birds fall from the sky

As the summer sun scorches rooftops and concrete roads across Delhi, city veterinarians and animal rescuers told PTI that exhausted pigeons are falling unconscious from the sky, dehydrated eagles are being collected from roadsides and street animals are suffering from stomach toxicity.

Veterinarians and rescuers across the city said emergency calls involving birds and stray animals suffering from dehydration, heatstroke and infections have spiked over the past few weeks as prolonged dry conditions and extreme temperatures continue to plague Delhi and NCR.

A veterinarian at the Abhay Daanam Bird and Animal Hospital in the Delhi-NCR region said the facility receives nearly 20 cases of heat-related diseases in birds a day, an increase of about 50 percent in recent weeks.

“Most of the birds that come to us are pigeons. A large number of them are suffering from pigeon pox, an infection that spreads more during periods of extreme heat and poor conditions. Apart from horses and cows, which are brought in due to dehydration, heatstroke and stagnant conditions, we also receive other species of birds,” he told PTI.

Pigeon pox is a viral disease that affects pigeons and other birds and causes lesions, weakness and feeding difficulties. Experts said extreme heat, stress and unsanitary environments often aggravate the spread of such infections.