The national capital has been facing a severe water shortage amid an ongoing heatwave and while the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Himachal Pradesh to release the 137 cusecs surplus water to Delhi and directed Haryana to facilitate the flow, there appears to be no immediate respite in sight.
Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media show residents, especially of the slums in Delhi, running after water tankers sent by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and clamouring to fill their pots and buckets as taps in the area run dry.
As soon as the tankers arrive, people work in pairs to collect water. One climbs the vehicle and sticks a pipe inside through the lid of the tanker while the other person waiting by the road sucks on the tip of the pipe with their mouth to facilitate the water flow. As soon as water starts to flow through the pipe, they start filing their containers. This water will be used by the families for drinking, cooking, washing clothes, and bathing.
Speaking to Indian Express, 20-year-old Anjana, a resident of Vivekanand Colony slum cluster located at the heart of Delhi’s Diplomatic Enclave, said, "Heart attack jaisa lagne lag jata hai, jaise hi tanki aati hai (It feels like I am having a heart attack when the water tanker arrives)."
But the daily rush to collect water, especially amid the ongoing heatwave, is not a peaceful process and fights among residents are common. “There are fights everyday,” Anjana told the publication.
Over the past few days, temperatures in the region have been more than 43 degrees Celsius. More than 200 people have died due to the heatwave, according to news media reports.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
