Play all audios:
Residents in far-flung areas of India's Rajasthan, a state with 61% desert cover and home to the Thar Desert, has been facing an acute water shortage due to a sweltering heatwave. The
state recorded a maximum temperature of up to 47 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. Villagers in Ati of the state's Barmer region said they are facing an acute shortage of drinking water as
the water level of the only source in the village, a handpump decreases in the day time, reported the ANI news agency. > Rajasthan: Residents of Ati village in Barmer say that they are
> facing acute water crisis, as the water level of the only source in > the village - a handpump, lowers during the day due to heat, forcing > them to fetch water at night.
(25.05.2020) > pic.twitter.com/EG2Ew007LY > — ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2020 The villagers wait until night to fetch water and the supply continues for only 10-14 minutes, often leading to
fights among people for their turn. "The women keep waiting here at night. Our livestock is also thirsty, some birds and animals have died. We request the govt to make artificial water
bodies for animals and make arrangements for us too", the report quoted a local as saying.