Pumping from All Major Sources Stops Due to Extreme Turbidity
Shimla, July 21 — If you turned on the tap today in Shimla and found no water, you're not alone.
The city's lifelines — Gumma, Giri, Nauti-Khad, and Koti-Barandi — have come to a grinding halt due to extremely high turbidity levels, caused by massive silt discharge into the rivers after incessant rains.
SJPNL and the Water Department have sounded the alarm, saying that pumping and lifting from all major sources have been suspended, with floodwaters entering pump houses and booster stations at Chaba on the Satluj.
“Turbidity at Gumma shot up to a staggering 6850 NTU at 8:30 AM. Giri Pumping was stopped completely by mid-morning due to flood-level water,” the officials from SJPNL stated.
To make things worse, floodwaters from the Satluj have now entered key infrastructure of the city’s largest supply system — the Lift Water Supply Scheme (LWSS) Chaba, both pre-booster and booster pump houses, threatening long-term damage.
> “There will be disturbances in water supply in Shimla for the next couple of days. Residents are advised to use water judiciously and keep buffer storage ready,” the officials warned in multiple alerts.
This water crisis is unfolding just as tourist traffic peaks and locals are already reeling under erratic power and road blocks.
The Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Ltd. (SJPNL) is monitoring the situation round the clock but restoring supply depends on the water quality normalizing, which remains uncertain due to continuous rain in the upper catchments.
Stay tuned for updates as Shimla stares at a possible citywide water scarcity in the coming days.
