India, April 4 -- At the peak of summer, when households need water the most, residents across Kalyan and Dombivli say they are receiving foul-smelling, sewage-mixed water, if at all. With supply slashed by over 60% in several areas, families are skipping baths, rationing every bucket, and rearranging daily routines around erratic timings. The simmering crisis boiled over on March 30, when hundreds of women gathered outside the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) headquarters, demanding clean, regular and adequate water.

Women lead protest

The protest saw hundreds of women from Kalyan staging a demonstration outside KDMC's office. Former corporator Manoj Rai, along with corporators Madhur Mhatre and Puja Gaikwad, led a delegati...