Summer is yet to reveal its true colours but there's already a drinking water crisis in the city. Residents of Shekhpura and Aadmi Gaon are facing an acute water shortage following the breakdown of the water pumping station that supplies to these localities.

Patna Jal Parshad (PJP), the agency responsible for water supply, provided just two water tankers that proved inadequate for the 10,000-odd who live there.

Irked over the water shortage, residents resorted to road blockade, forcing the PJP to act. Mechanics were put on the job and the pumping station was repaired on April 2.

This is not an isolated incident. Such breakdowns and water shortages are common in the city, particularly during summer months when demand for drinking water shoots up. Localities like sector VI on Bhootnath Road, Chitragupta Nagara, Nurnai Bagh, Mussalahpur, Ambedkar Colony, Alam Ganj, Krishna Nagar and areas near Gol Ghar and Science College are plagued by an intermittent water crisis as old motors in pumping stations play truant every now and again.

Several of the 89 drinking water pumping stations in the city are in poor shape. PJP has been found wanting on proper up-keep of motors and electric transformers, leading to frequent breakdowns.