The pump house at Jobra where goons stole wire on Monday night. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, May 13: Drinking water supply was hit for more than eight hours in Jobra here today as unidentified goons snapped the electric wire of the pumping house near Bombay Hotel last night.

Residents of Pareswar Sahi, Samadhi Patna and surrounding areas at Jobra in Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s ward No. 39 were the worst sufferers.

On Sunday, goons had also stolen wires of the pump house at Sikharpur, causing inconvenience to local residents.

A source in Malgodown police station said that steps would be taken once a complaint is lodged by officials of the public health department.

“There was no water supply in our area since early morning. We had to face a lot of difficulties,” said Bibhuti Swain, 37, a local resident.

Swain said that even though they had informed officials of public health department that goons had snapped the wire of the pump house, the authorities did not take any step till late afternoon.

Local residents also alleged that the public health officials were yet to initiate measures for setting up another pump house to resolve water scarcity at Jobra and surrounding areas.

“The land for a second pump house was identified twice. But, its construction is yet to start. As a result, about 5,000 people are facing problems due to inconsistent water supply,” said Alekh Chandra Behra, 64, a local resident.

“We have received complaints of water scarcity due to technical problems at Jobra and it will be fully resolved by tonight,” said assistant executive engineer of public health department Mihir Barik.