A woman in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh died on Monday, July 15, during a clash between two groups of women at a public tap. 38-year-old Tatipudi Padma died as some women allegedly attacked her with steel pots over collecting water from the tap.
Police quoted eyewitnesses who claimed that the trouble began with some women breaking the queue at the tap. Waiting for her turn, Padma made an objection. An argument broke out, following which she was attacked with steel pots.
“She got into a clash with another woman in the queue at the public tap. She suffered head and chest injuries, slipped and died on spot. A case has been filed and an investigation in the matter is underway,” NDTV quoted police officer K Venkatesh as saying.
According to locals, the area has been hit by a severe water crisis, and drinking water was being released by authorities through public taps once in two or three days.
Drinking-Water Crisis In Andhra Pradesh
In a similar incident, in May, in Kadamakuntla village of Kurnool district, Padmavathamma, a 48-year-old woman, died during a scuffle over water. A borewell is the only source of drinking water in the village.
This incident came three days after a calamity relief fund with Rs 2,000 crore was announced by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Due to the decline in water levels at main reservoirs and delay in monsoon, parts of Andhra Pradesh are facing acute drinking water shortage.
The Rayalaseema region is in a drought-like situation, and owing to the deficit rainfall, the groundwater level in the region has just risen by 0.24%.
At Antipeta village of Sitanaragam block of adjacent Vizianagaram district, meanwhile, a dharna was staged by hundreds of women who blocked the state highway demanding the supply of drinking water from authorities.
“There has been no drinking water supply to eleven villages in the block from Baggam Doravalasa pilot project for the last one week. We want the authorities to respond immediately and resolve this severe water shortage,” Hindustan Times quoted one of the agitating women as telling local reporters.
