Shimla reels as water crisis threatens IGMC and 192 other schemes

Shimla, Aug 15,

Shimla’s premier Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) is staring at empty taps after torrential rains, flash floods, and unprecedented turbidity brought the city’s water supply system to a standstill.

On Thursday, the total water intake plunged to a mere 3.76 million litres per day (MLD) — a drastic fall from the normal 22 MLD — crippling all major pumping stations feeding the hill capital. The shortage has sparked emergency measures at IGMC and other hospitals, where administrations have halted laundry operations, restricted stored water for drinking purposes only, and turned to rainwater for basic hygiene.

“We do not maintain separate storage; supply is made directly to maintain pressure in all distribution tanks. With negligible intake today, Shimla will not get water,” confirmed Sahil Sharma, spokesperson for Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL).

The impact is far-reaching — around 192 water supply schemes across Himachal Pradesh have been disrupted, with preliminary estimates placing infrastructure damage between Rs 600 crore and Rs 700 crore. The government has warned of prolonged shortages unless weather conditions stabilise and repairs are expedited.

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