The summer woes for the residents of the town have worsened with complicated problems in the drinking water supply.

Residents have to struggle to satiate their thirst in all 44 wards of Chhapra Nagar Parishad. Handpumps have gone dry and wells have turned muddy. Sources said the problem had been aggravated with a steadily depleting water level.

In various wards, residents have to queue up for hours in front of hand pumps to get water. In ward number 40, there are two. Nagar Palika Chowk also has a hand pump. But others like Thana Chowk, Darga Rai Chowk, Mauna Chowk and Sahebganj Chowk do not have a pump.

An executive engineer with public health and engineering department, Chandeshwar Ram, said a control room has been set up to solve the problem. “People facing water scarcity can call up 06152-244791. The problem would be sorted out as soon as possible,” he said.