Udhampur, Jan. 16 -- More than eight months after devastating floods hit parts of Udhampur district in August, residents of Ward 1 in Ritti Panchayat continue to grapple with an acute water crisis as the village's piped water supply system remains non-functional.

Despite the Jal Shakti Department restoring most flood-damaged water projects in the region, the piped supply serving Ritti village has yet to be repaired. As a result, villagers are forced to walk one to two kilometres every day to fetch drinking water, significantly affecting daily life, especially for women and elderly residents.

Local residents said the prolonged disruption has placed an enormous burden on households. Women are compelled to leave behind domestic responsibil...