Residents in Delhi are struggling with worsening water shortages as extreme heatwave conditions continue to increase pressure on the city’s water supply system.
According to the India Meteorological Department, temperatures reached 43.3 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung and climbed to 44.4 degrees Celsius at the Ridge station on Friday.
Weather officials have extended an orange heatwave alert until May 28 and warned that temperatures are likely to remain between 43 and 46 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
The intense heat has sharply increased water demand across the city, leading to supply disruptions in several residential areas including Vasant Vihar, Dwarka, Moti Bagh and parts of north Delhi.
Residents reported irregular water supply, low water pressure and unpredictable distribution timings, forcing many families to rely on private tanker services and packaged drinking water.
Officials from the Delhi Jal Board said the city’s daily water requirement during peak summer rises to nearly 1,250 million gallons per day, while available supply remains below demand levels.
Several Resident Welfare Associations also reported increased dependence on tanker services, with tanker prices rising because of growing demand across affected neighbourhoods.
Authorities have deployed nearly 1,000 water tankers across the city in an attempt to reduce shortages and maintain emergency supply in critical areas.
However, complaints continue, especially from residents living in high rise buildings where low pressure often prevents water from reaching upper floors.
Some residents have also raised concerns over inconsistent supply schedules and poor water quality during initial flow periods.
Weather experts warned that the prolonged heatwave, combined with rising water consumption and pressure on infrastructure, could further strain Delhi’s supply network unless weather conditions improve soon.
Authorities continue monitoring the situation while emergency measures remain in place across the capital.
