Mourners endure water shortage amid Muharram procession at Gaw Kadal

Srinagar, July 5: The austerity of the 9th Muharram processions in Srinagar’s Gaw Kadal locality was vitiated by acute water shortage, as thousands of mourners had to suffer from water scar you in the hot weather. Azadars have squarely accused the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department of neglecting repeated requests for water supply arrangements during the religious processions.On Muharram 9th, taps in Gaw Kadal and surrounding localities dried up. Water stalls organized by volunteers along the route of the procession were compelled to close down, unable to serve mourners because of the severe shortage. “We had made constant requests to the local PHE division for water tankers, even then they only provided us with false promises. They kept on saying ‘we are coming’, but nobody arrived,” said Sameer Bhat, a volunteer who had also arranged free water distribution stalls. “Their tall claims were just that. Even in the middle of this scorching heatwave, we were left helpless. What is this administration where people are left helpless even at religious events?”  Gaw Kadal Muharram processions attract huge numbers of people annually. Volunteers typically place stalls providing water and refreshments to the mourners as a token of respect. But this year’s arrangements collapsed when taps dried up and no back-up arrangements were made by the authorities. “This is not just about water. This is about dignity,” said an angry youth, Aadil Mir. “Every time there is a festival or religious event in this city, we are left on our own. And then the same officials appear on TV claiming everything is in order.”