Damaged pipeline: Blood comes in taps in Shopian

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 16

In an incident which put health of hundreds of residents at risk, blood flowed through taps in a village of Shopian district last week. Meanwhile, the administration on Tuesday blamed butchers and a damaged pipeline for the incident.

Residents of Chitragam village of Shopian had complained on Saturday evening that reddish water was flowing through their household taps. Some had even captured it on their mobile phone cameras.

The video, along with a complaint, was shared by former legislator Aijaz Mir on social media, following which the administration got into action.

Deputy Commissioner Owais Mir said the PHE department was “working hard with resources” and promised action would be taken against those found guilty.

The state administration’s grievance cell on Tuesday came out with a detailed action report of the incident. It stated that the preliminary enquiry found a chain of events that had led to bloody water running through the taps and pinned the blame on butchers and damaged pipeline.

It is ascertained that some butchers, having shops in the vicinity, slaughtered animals in the nearby area. The blood overflowed through the local drain, stains of which might have mixed with some old and damaged underground pipe network.

The report, prepared by the executive engineer of PHE division, further said “it might have become the cause of blood-coloured water running through the taps of few households in Chitragam”.