Power failure worsens Delhi's water crisis

New Delhi: A massive power breakdown in northern India - it's the worst northern grid failure since 2001 -has affected water supply in seven states. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal had no electricity for seven hours since 2:30 am.

This meant that for many, Monday morning dawned to dry taps too. Delhi's six water treatment plants were shut since 2 am; five of them resumed services only by around 9 am. All Delhi Jal Board water pumping stations have also been affected. So, there has been no water supply to the underground reservoirs in hundreds of Delhi's colonies. Authorities in the power companies say that they are giving priority to the Jal Board and are trying to get pumping stations operational as soon as possible.

Residents in Delhi can expect erratic supply this evening, though the Jal Board is trying to ensure some amount of supply to each colony, say officials.

The power failure has led to anger across Delhi, which is already wrestling with a water crisis.

"As power fails in Delhi, people are in total state of panic. This is how most of India lives on a day to day basis without any electricity," said a resident of Delhi, Amit Kumar on Twitter.