As the blistering sun casts its relentless rays over India, urban centers are grappling with a pressing threat that extends beyond mere discomfort. A perilous combination of extreme heat and an escalating water crisis is pushing the country’s cities to their limits, raising urgent questions about long-term sustainability and the welfare of millions. This summer has come with ominous omens, featuring record-high temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns.
The India Meteorological Department had issued stark warnings of above-average temperatures across much of the nation in April and May, setting the stage for a potentially catastrophic season.
The ramifications of this climate assault are particularly serious for India’s swiftly expanding urban population. Cities, already burdened by inadequate infrastructure and growing populations, now face the daunting task of ensuring sufficient water resources amid relentless heat.
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Key urban areas such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Delhi are witnessing acute water shortages, with Delhi experiencing a daily shortfall of almost 190 million liters. This problem is being further aggravated by climate change, which is leading to more frequent and severe heatwaves and droughts.
The imminent water shortage
As many as 35 million people of India’s 1.4 billion population do not have access to safe water. Years of unsustainable water management practices, alongside rapid urban growth and industrial expansion, have significantly depleted groundwater reserves and contaminated surface water.
The ongoing heatwave, however, is acting as a powerful accelerant, hastening the depletion of the remaining water supplies and intensifying existing vulnerabilities.
“The extreme heat sharply increases water demand across all sectors,” explained Dr. Anjali Sharma, a prominent hydrologist at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. “Households require more water for drinking, sanitation, and cooling needs. Agriculture, especially in suburban regions, demands intensive irrigation to offset evaporation. Industries are equally dependent on water for their operations.”
This spike in demand is exerting tremendous pressure on already-strained water supply systems. Many cities are struggling to maintain adequate pressure in pipelines, resulting in intermittent supplies and rationing. In some regions, residents are left with no choice but to depend on costly and often unreliable private water tankers, exacerbating inequality and disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
The human toll of the crisis
The lack of access to clean water is severely impacting public health, particularly among children and the elderly. Waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery are on the rise, with more than 37 million Indians being affected annually. Diarrhea alone kills 1.5 million children every year.
Cases of dehydration and heatstroke are becoming increasingly frequent, leading to hospitalizations and hundreds of fatalities annually.
Moreover, the water crisis is threatening livelihoods and economic prospects. Businesses are being forced to limit their operations due to water shortages, resulting in job losses and decreased productivity. Agricultural communities in particular are being hit hard, with crop failures leading to widespread economic distress.
“People are losing their livelihoods because they can’t cultivate anything,” lamented Ramesh Kumar, a farmer from a village near Chennai. “The groundwater has run dry, and we have no water for irrigation. We’re desperate.”
Beyond statistics: Personal stories of struggle
In Bangalore, one of India’s fastest-growing cities, families rise before dawn to gather water from community taps before the supply dwindles. Conflicts arise over access to these limited resources, and tensions are escalating in neighborhoods that are already under pressure from overcrowding.
“We have to wait in line for hours every day to fill a few buckets of water,” shares Lakshmi, a resident of a low-income area in Bangalore. “Sometimes, the water is contaminated and smells terrible, but we have no choice. We have to use it.”
In Chennai, which has repeatedly battled severe water shortages in recent years, the authorities are resorting to desalination plants and long-distance water transportation to supplement supplies.
However, these solutions are costly and energy-intensive, which raises concerns about their long-term feasibility.
“The government is doing what it can, but it’s not enough,” asserts Rajesh, a local activist in Chennai. “We need to fundamentally rethink our approach to water management and prioritize conservation and efficiency.”
