Commuters drink water at the army kiosk at Danapur cantonment on Wednesday. Picture by Jai Prakash

A few armymen in the city have proved that the saying “mushkil waqt, commando sakht” fits all seasons.

As temperature soared to 41.5°C, making it unbearable to commute under the raging sun on Wednesday, a few soldiers have decided to quench the thirst of people who are out in the open.

Officials of Danapur Cantonment have installed 10 drinking water kiosks in the cantonment area so that commuters could get water whenever they need.

Neither Danapur Municipality nor Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made any arrangement to provide drinking water to commuters.

“Nothing gives us more pleasure than providing relief to the hundreds of people who are facing a terrible time (mushkil waqt) because of the heat. The temperature has soared drastically in the past few days. What is making the condition worse is the hot wind blowing continuously. People have to go outside for work but because of lack of taps and handpumps, they are not able to quench their thirst. Many fall sick because of this. So, we thought of installing the water kiosks,” said Subedar A.K. Singh of Danapur Cantonment.

He added that the army personnel of Danapur Cantonment had started the practice of installing water kiosks during summers for commuters several years ago.

“I am working here for the past two years and I have seen my seniors do it. Even they don’t know when the Army started this practice of installing kiosks. Whoever started it, I must appreciate his effort,” said Singh.

The soldiers have placed huge earthen pots on sand base and have covered them with a wall. To give a cooling effect, layers of mud have been put on the wall.

“Commuters who are braving the scorching heat would not love to drink hot water. This is a natural way of cooling water, which is not harmful,” said Colonel Nanak Chand Choudhary.

“We have put two pots in each kiosk. One can store around 35l of water. We have to fill water at least five times during the day. You can well imagine how many people stop by to quench their thirst,” added Choudhary.

A senior official with the PMC said the civic body has not installed any water kiosk for the commuters but such facility is on the anvil.

“In the proposed budget of 2013-14, we have made provisions to install water kiosks. We have also decided to install two handpumps in every ward,” the PMC official said.

However, Mahesh Prasad Singh, the executive officer of Danapur Municipality said the civic agency has no such plan to install water kiosks in its wards.