Video: Delhi residents chase tanker with empty buckets amid heatwave
What's the story
Delhi is battling a water crisis as extreme heat conditions grip the north and western parts of India, causing students to faint in schools and drinking water taps to run dry. Video footage from Okhla Phase 2 shows people jumping queues and climbing atop tankers to fill their vessels. Similar visuals were also witnessed in Sanjay camp in Chanakyapuri, where residents were seen lining up buckets next to a water tanker, taking turns to fill them.
Twitter Post
Check out the video here
#WATCH | Delhi: Due to the water crisis, people are facing problems in many areas of the national capital. Water is being supplied to the people through tankers.
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2024
(Visuals from Okhla Phase 2 area) pic.twitter.com/uuwQJnooDN
Legal action
Government seeks Supreme Court intervention amid crisis
The Delhi government has already approached the Supreme Court, seeking direction for the Haryana government to release water at the Wazirabad barrage from Himachal Pradesh. The plea cited record-high temperatures and a heatwave that caused temperatures to rise to around 50 degrees Celsius in some places. This has resulted in an extraordinary surge in water demand, leading to frequent supply cuts and disrupting daily life for residents of Delhi's NCT.
Survival struggles
Residents rely on tankers, bottled water amid shortage
Residents have shared their struggles with the water shortage, many relying on water tankers for their daily needs. However, inadequate supply from these tanks has forced some to buy bottled water. "We are facing a severe water crisis," said Vinay, a resident of Geeta Colony. "Our locality has a population of around 3,000-4,000 people, but the government sends only half the required number of tankers."
Blame game
Kejriwal seeks Centre, BJP's help
On Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to encourage the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to help meet the city's water needs. Kejriwal requested his BJP counterparts protesting against his administration to unite in providing relief for Delhi's residents. "Such scorching heat is not in anyone's control. But if we all work together, we can provide relief to the people from this," he added.