Power Outage Triggers Water Crisis in Rewa’s Dhurkuch Village

Residents of Dhurkuch in Rewa face acute water shortage as prolonged power outage disrupts supply, forcing villagers to fetch contaminated water from forest areas

A prolonged electricity outage in Dhurkuch village of Rewa district has pushed residents into a severe drinking water crisis, with locals trekking nearly two kilometres daily to collect unsafe water from a forested patch.

The disruption, now stretching close to a month, has hit Ward No. 7 under the Dabhaura Nagar Parishad area. With temperatures climbing steadily, the situation on the ground appears to be worsening, particularly for children and the elderly.

Power Cut Sparks Crisis

According to villagers, the issue began when unknown persons allegedly cut an الكهرباء cable supplying the area about a month ago. Since then, electricity has not been restored, bringing routine life to a halt.

The absence of power has directly impacted water availability. Government-installed borewells in the village remain non-functional as electric pumps have stopped working, leaving residents without a reliable source of drinking water.

Trek for Unsafe Water

With no immediate alternative in place, families have been forced to walk nearly two kilometres into a nearby forest area. There, they dig shallow pits in a dried-up riverbed to collect murky water.

“It’s not fit for drinking, but we have no choice,” a local resident said, pointing to the visibly contaminated water collected in containers. The situation, villagers say, has persisted despite repeated complaints.

Complaints Go Unanswered

Residents claim they have approached the electricity department multiple times and even registered complaints through the CM Helpline 181. However, no corrective action has been taken so far.

Ward councillor Asma Devi said the issue has been flagged to concerned officials on several occasions. “We tried contacting the junior engineer, but calls often go unanswered,” she alleged.

Tanker Supply Irregular

Adding to the problem is the irregular supply of water tankers. Locals said that while tankers were expected to provide temporary relief, their visits have been inconsistent, leaving large sections of the village without access to potable water.

“There are days when no tanker comes at all,” said another resident. “We are left to manage on our own.”

Health Concerns Rise

With villagers consuming untreated and potentially contaminated water, concerns over waterborne diseases are growing. Locals report that children and elderly residents are particularly vulnerable in the current conditions.

Though no official health advisory has been issued yet, residents say minor illnesses have already begun to surface in the area.

Administration Steps In

After the issue surfaced in local media, district authorities took note. Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi, Collector of Rewa, has directed concerned departments to address the situation on priority.

“Instructions have been issued to restore electricity and ensure proper water supply at the earliest,” he said, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Awaiting Ground Action

While assurances have been made, villagers remain cautious. Many say they have heard similar promises before, but tangible action is yet to be seen.

For now, Dhurkuch continues to grapple with a daily struggle for basic necessities. As the heat intensifies, the urgency for restoring power and ensuring safe drinking water is only growing.