The residents of Murma settlement in Rara VDC are facing water shortage after the water sources in the area dried up because of prolonged drought.

“We have been facing problems managing drinking water. One family gets only one gagri (traditional water pot) water per day,” said Dhansingh Rokaya .

There are 70 households in Murma.

Prolonged drought has caused most of the water sources in the area to dry. Mugu district has not had rain since July last year.

Villagers of Ruga VDC are also facing the same problem.

 “There is only one water source left. We have to wait in line for hours to fill our pots,” said Jaukali Kami of Ruga VDC.

Puni Malla of Banjaha village said she walks half an hour to collect a gallon of water from Tirsekhola. “We have been spending our days fetching water from far distance,” said Malla.  

Around 80 households of Kyalch village in Jima also have been facing difficulties due to water shortage.  

Seventy-two year Dhane Bhandari of Sumli village informed that most of the water sources in the village have dried up. “We will be compelled to migrate near Karnali bank area if the situation continues,” said Bhandari.

The water level of Rara Lake has also dipped by 1.5 metres. As the Khatyad river flowing down from Rara lake has dried up, people living in seven VDCs of Mugu are facing water shortage.

“There is a shortage of drinking water in our village. The sources of water have dried up due to prolonged drought,” said 75-year-old Jaya Bahadur Rokaya of Murma.

According to the local authorities, around 200 water sources have dried up in 24 VDCs of Mugu district.

The water level in Karnali River has also dropped as there has been no rainfall in the region for months.