Bleak Diwali for Sakoca residents
What is supposed to be a joyous celebration with friends and family this long weekend turned bleak for the Narayan family who have little to no water supply for Diwali.
After much planning and anticipation for the long weekend this year, their water supply stopped since Friday.
They claim that water disruptions has been a norm in Sakoca every year specifically during Diwali.
Father-of-three children, Sumeet Narayan, 27, said the disruption has really dampened the Diwali-spirit for his household of seven people.
“We have not had a chance to do our laundry, we have dirty dishes, and there is little water for us to bath in. There was no warning either from authorities,” he said. Fortunately, he has a car he was able to drive to relatives houses to fetch water for their use.
However according to him, when he enquired with authorities he was told that water supply would normalise after Diwali.
Similar sentiments were echoed by fellow resident, Veeru Kumar, who has been living in Sakoca for seven years.
The 40-year-old said; “We can manage without electricity but not without water.” WAF said in a statement yesterday that they were working to normalise water supply to selected elevated areas in Suva and Nasinu.
They said the disruption was caused by unplanned electricity outages at the Wainibuku Pump Station and the standby generator at the station failed to start automatically.
An investigation into the failure of the standby generator has started.
Customers who are facing water disruptions and require water carting assistance have been advised to contact WAF on 3346777 or short code 5777.