On September 1, streets of Tskhinvali met schoolchildren with rivers of dirt

This year, on the Day of Knowledge, September 1, the streets of Tskhinvali met schoolchildren with puddles and mud. Pupils walked to schools while literally drowning in them, local residents complained.

"Rain started at night; and next morning everything turned into mud.

Schoolchildren nearly drowned in it. A bus fell into a trench dug for replacement of underground utilities, and then covered with earth," said an eyewitness's message that came in the evening on September 1 from the capital of South Ossetia.

"It happened in the city centre, near the intersection of Stalin and Kharebov Streets. Same was all over the city," added the source, whose report, along with photos, was posted on September 2 by the journalist from North Ossetia Alan Tskhurbaev in his blog on the "Caucasian Knot".

In April, the Mayoralty of Tskhinvali began replacing the old sewer and water supply networks. The underground utilities built in the 1960s were in poor condition and had long needed replacement. According to the Mayor Gerasim Khugaev, all the underground networks will be replaced before the end of the year.

Local residents were enthusiastic about the start of the works; however, the situation is complicated by the problem of dust and dirt abounding in the streets.