People living in remote areas of Khagrachhari hill district are facing acute shortage of water.
Their only source of water is small streams which dry up in summer. Locals say they have to travel for miles to collect water from brooks.
In some areas near the Khagrachhari-Dighinala road, a large number of women are every day seen waiting for hours to collect water from a small stream. Many of them come from remote areas.
Sixty-year-old Haten Boishnob and Doli Tripura, 40, are among those who collect water from afar.
They say water shortage forces them to go without taking baths for days together.
Rajesh Tripura, a local, says the brook is the lone source of water for about 450 families of Chandrakiron Karbari Para, Amtoli and Atmile Joutha Khamar areas.
When the water crisis news reaches the Army, they promptly take steps to distribute water in places their vehicles can go, according to UNB news agency.
Topu Tripura, a teacher at Noymile Tripura Para Junior Secondary School, says water scarcity is affecting them, too.
“We’ve told the students to bring water from their homes. Whatever they bring is used to meet the demand for drinking water at the school. But it’s not enough,” he says.
Topu says they cannot not use the toilet as there is no enough water. “Female students are the worst sufferers,” he adds, requesting the authorities concerned to take immediate steps.
