SHIMLA: Shimla is facing an acute water crisis. Residents are complaining of taps going dry for the seventh consecutive day. The Mall Road frequented by tourists is seeing long queues for water since daybreak. The situation has reached a point where the Himachal Pradesh High Court took immediate notice of the matter and stepped in. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said he held a couple of review meetings and his government is tackling the situation. Local residents of Shimla have been active on Twitter, asking tourists to stay away. Hoteliers in Shimla have admitted there have been cancellations at the peak of the tourist season.
Here is your 10 point guide to the water crisis in Shimla:
1. Residents of Shimla say there is no water supply from the municipality for the seventh day. People have been queuing up for water from tankers
2. Locals protested, raised slogans late last night in front of the Chief Minister's residence. Clashes with police have also been reported. Protesting residents also blocked the Shimla-Kalka road
3. Himachal Pradesh High Court hauled up the municipal commissioner and the chief engineer and questioned what steps are being taken to immediately tackle the crisis
4. Fourteen water tankers and eight pick-up vehicles have been pressed into service by the Shimla Municipal Corporation.