In the hilly regions of Bageshwar, a worsening water crisis is pushing villagers to the brink—even before summer has fully set in.
With no reliable supply in sight, residents are left to defend themselves, walking miles or hiring mules just to get a few buckets of water.
Taps in villages like Mandalsera, Mankot, Dhapoli, and Kharai of Bageshwar have been dry for weeks. People now queue up at distant springs or rely on animals to carry water home. The struggle is especially hard on the elderly.
“I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve complained,” said 65-year-old Bhairav Dutt Pandey from Mandalsera. “But nothing changes. At this age, it’s exhausting to fetch water every day.”
In Kharai, Jagdish Ram shared a similar story—residents depending on mules for basic chores, while shrinking springs remain the only source of drinking water.
Even children aren’t spared. “Every morning, the kids carry water before heading to school,” said Raju Chaubey from Mankot. “I drive 10 kilometers daily just to make sure my family has enough to get by.”
Despite repeated pleas, no sustainable solution has been offered. For these villagers of Bageshwar, water, a basic necessity, has become a daily struggle.
