The grip of intense heat is tightening over Hyderabad as the city is witnessing acute water shortage besides high level of discomfort because of the scorching weather. While the water emergency has been declared in Hyderabad, maximum or day temperatures are breaching previous records.
In absence of any relief from either rain or winds, mercury is soaring in Hyderabad and maximum temperature has reached beyond 40°C. The maximum in the city is 42°C which is the second highest for the city in last ten years. The highest temperature for city now stands at 43°C that was recorded on 14th April, 2016.
While the city has been recording temperature as high as 40°C since the beginning of April, the four reservoirs in the city have gone dry for the first time in 30 years. Amid the deadly heatwave condition, the shortage is so severe that people in many areas of Hyderabad are now getting water in their homes only on alternate days, says The Hindustan Times.
Hyderabad, on an average, needs 660 million gallons of water every day, but the administration is able to supply it with only 335 million gallons. Water is being fetched from the Godavari and Krishna rivers, almost 200 km away.
With heatwave likely to grip Hyderabad in next few days, this water shortage is sending alarm bells ringing. The only relief, however, seems to be coming from the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) that has decided to arrange motors to pump water from other reservoirs in Hyderabad.
India is likely to have longer and hotter summer this year. The glimpse of this scorcher has already been seen in April with temperatures in several places of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and East India touching 45°C.
Image Credit: theguardian.com
