Photo: Water supply is restricted in New Delhi, the capital of India, and residents queue up to get water. \Reuters

India is experiencing the longest heat wave on record, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many places and approaching 50°C in some areas. The extreme high temperatures have caused a surge in demand for water and electricity, and a water shortage crisis has broken out in the capital New Delhi. Citizens without water have stormed into the Water Supply Commission office to smash and destroy things to vent their anger.

Extreme heat has become a public health crisis in India. Between March and May this year, India recorded more than 25,000 cases of heat stroke, and 60 people died of heat-related diseases in May. During the Indian general election, at least 33 election workers died of heat stroke during the voting in Uttar Pradesh on June 1.

With the arrival of high temperatures, people’s water consumption has increased sharply. India accounts for about 18% of the world’s population, but only has 4% of the world’s water resources. The Yamuna River, the main water source for New Delhi, has dropped in water level due to insufficient rainfall, resulting in restrictions on daily water supply in the capital. People can only rely on government water trucks that appear from time to time to get water. There have been repeated chaotic scenes of grabbing water, and the water shortage has not been alleviated for several weeks. Videos circulating on social media show that angry people rushed into the office of the New Delhi Water Board (DJB) on the 16th, smashed the windows with clay water tanks, and some people threw stones into the office.

In addition, water supply pipes were recently damaged in New Delhi, further worsening the water supply situation. Local officials asked the police to send more personnel to patrol and protect the main water supply pipes to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

(The Times of India, BBC)