A 12-year-old Baloch girl named Asma Taroomideh (Jadgal), a third-grade student from the village of Shahbikzehi in Dashtiyari County, lost her life by drowning in a “hotak” near her home on Friday, April 26, 2024. Due to the lack of a proper water supply system in Dashtiyari, residents resort to digging “hotaks” to collect surface water for various purposes including drinking, washing, and other daily uses. These reservoirs have become essential in the face of water scarcity in the region.
A “hotak” is a dug-up reservoir used by residents of deprived areas in Balochistan Province for bathing, washing dishes, drinking, and other daily needs due to the absence of a reliable piped water system.
