Residents of Jyotinagar Colony in Kashipur, Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s Ward 6, say water supply has been completely cut off for nearly a month. All six taps in the colony reportedly stopped running on 29 July, affecting about 5,000 people who have lived there for around 60 years. Residents, mostly Muslim along with a smaller number of Hindu families, say they are relying on Ganges water for bathing and other daily needs.

Residents allege that taps in Hindu-majority colonies on the same road remain functional, while authorities did not provide a positive response after complaints to police and municipal offices. They also say street electricity was disconnected the day after the water outage. Families reported children suffering fever, headaches and skin diseases after using polluted river water, while slippery ghat steps have caused injuries.

A local CPI(M) leader said the party is arranging a KMC water tanker for 700 rupees every three to four days, but said one tanker cannot serve 5,000 people. Residents also raised eviction fears. The West Bengal Bustee Unnayan Samiti has approached court, and CPI(M) leader Shamim Ahmad said it obtained a stay order against eviction, though the water crisis continues.