IIOJK Residents Protest Acute Water Shortage, Demand Urgent Action

With no clean water for over two weeks, desperate residents of Bongam in Shopian, IIOJK took to the streets, demanding immediate restoration of basic life essentials.

In a powerful display of frustration, residents of the Bongam locality in Shopian district, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), staged a public protest against an ongoing water crisis that has gripped the area for more than two weeks.

Scores of men, women, and children gathered on the main road, blocking traffic to draw attention to the severe shortage of drinking water. Holding placards and shouting slogans, they denounced the authorities for their inaction and neglect.

Protesters expressed deep anger and anguish over the failure of the concerned department to restore potable water, despite multiple appeals from the community. “We have been without safe drinking water for over 15 days, and not a single official has come to address our suffering,” lamented one woman. She further revealed that the lack of clean water has led to illnesses among children, and families are now forced to collect water from unsafe sources amid rising temperatures.

The water shortage has disrupted everyday life and hygiene. Protesters highlighted how difficult it has become to manage even the most basic tasks like washing clothes, doing dishes, or maintaining sanitation, especially in the hot and humid summer conditions.

“We can’t cook or clean properly, and the health of our families is now at risk,” said another protester. The residents emphasized that the issue is not just about inconvenience—it is about health, dignity, and survival.

Many participants in the protest said this was not the first time their area has suffered such negligence. Past complaints have frequently gone unheard, but this time, they warned, inaction would lead to a larger agitation.

The community is demanding that the district administration and Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department take immediate steps to restore the water supply. They also called for a permanent solution to avoid recurring crises.

This protest underscores a broader pattern in many parts of IIOJK, where basic public services like water, electricity, and sanitation remain unreliable, leaving already marginalized communities to fend for themselves.

As the situation grows more critical, residents of Bongam are hoping their voices will finally be heard. Until then, they are determined to continue their protest and resist what they see as official indifference to their fundamental needs.