Residents of Kilshay village in the Gurez valley of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday appealed to the authorities to waive their water fees and electricity bills, saying they have not received proper tap water supply for several months due to heavy snowfall in the area. The villagers said that harsh winter conditions and continuous snowfall damaged water pipelines and disrupted essential services, leaving them without regular access to tap water. They added that despite repeated requests to the concerned departments, the problem has not been resolved so far. Kilshay, a remote border village, remains cut off for long periods during winter, making it difficult for residents to access basic facilities. Locals said they are forced to fetch water from distant natural sources, which becomes even more challenging during the freezing temperatures. “We have not received tap water for months as the pipelines were damaged due to heavy snowfall. In such a situation, asking us to pay water charges is unfair. The government should immediately waive these bills,” said a local resident. Another villager said the community largely belongs to a poor border population struggling to make ends meet. “Most families here are poor and depend on limited resources. We request the authorities to waive both electricity and water bills until the supply is fully restored,” he said. The residents urged the administration to intervene and ensure restoration of basic services at the earliest while providing relief to the affected families.