Leh, 22 July (H.S.): The administration in a swift action has restored drinking water supply in 22 most flash flood-affected areas of Kargil district through temporary arrangements while permanent restoration of damaged infrastructure is underway on a war footing, officials said.

The recent flash flood caused extensive damage to infiltration galleries, collection chambers, pipelines and headworks, disrupting gravity-based water supply schemes across several villages in the district on Monday and Tuesday.

Officials said the public health engineering department, with the support of local residents and field staff, restored water supply through emergency measures, including submersible pumps, temporary pipeline connections, water tankers and the revival of old water supply schemes wherever feasible.

Permanent restoration works are being carried out simultaneously with men and machinery deployed at multiple locations, they said.

In Latoo, the old water supply scheme has been restored and all four public stand posts are functional. However, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme remains suspended after its sluice chamber was filled with silt and clay, with restoration work in progress, they said.

At Budgam and Karkitchoo, where infiltration galleries were severely damaged, water is being supplied through submersible pumps and temporary pipeline connections, they said.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar