Jaipur/Barmer/Jodhpur/Bharatpur/Ajmer, May 19 -- Several cattle have reportedly died in recent days amid extreme heat and prolonged disruption in canal water supply in Barmer district. The deaths were reported from Derasar village where residents say acute drinking water shortages have pushed both humans and livestock into distress. Videos from Ramdiyon Ki Basti in the village showed carcasses of cows lying around a dried-up water reservoir, while one animal was found dead inside an empty tank after apparently collapsing in search of water. Villagers alleged that the Barmer Lift Canal, the main source of drinking water for the village, has remained shut for nearly a month, while groundwater sources and handpumps have also dried up under soaring temperatures. Locals claimed that despite repeated complaints, no water tanker reached the village for nearly ten days. Aziz Khan, a resident, said he had informed PHED officials about the crisis over a week ago, but tanker supply was delayed. Sarpanch Arsad Rajad confirmed that the village was facing a severe water crisis and said that at least six cows had died due to lack of water. Following circulation of the videos, SDM Ramlal Meena said, "Instructions had been issued to the Tehsildar to prepare a report on the cattle deaths at the earliest". He added that PHED officials were directed to dispatch water tankers to the village. Barmer and other western Rajasthan districts are currently reeling under intense heat, with temperatures remaining above 40degC for nearly 20 consecutive days. This season, the mercury touched a record 48.3degC in Barmer - the highest early-May temperature recorded in the district in 31 years. Over the past three days, Barmer has remained the hottest district in the country. The crisis has spread across large parts of Rajasthan despite the arrival of Indira Gandhi Canal Project (IGNP) water in Bikaner district after a 45-day canal closure. Officials said supply conditions would improve gradually as reservoirs refill, but residents across Bikaner city and canal-dependent areas complained that water was still being supplied only once every two to three days with low pressure in tail-end areas. Families have been forced to depend on private tankers, with rates rising sharply to Rs.600-800 for 1,000 litres and Rs.1,500-2,000 for large tankers. Farmers in Suratgarh, Rawla, Gharsana and Anupgarh said irrigation supply disruptions had delayed cotton sowing ahead of the kharif season. Similar conditions have been reported in Hanumangarh district, where canal closure affected both urban and rural water supply. Eastern Rajasthan is also witnessing severe shortages. In Bharatpur city, residents of Anirudh Nagar colony protested after water supply remained disrupted for four days, forcing families to buy tankers for around Rs.800. Women staged demonstrations demanding regular supply, while villagers in Kasoda alleged that overhead tanks built under the Jal Jeevan Mission had remained non-functional despite completion. In Deeg district, women in villages such as Mawai, Jatoli, Kakda and Bedham are reportedly walking nearly a kilometre daily to fetch water from wells. Villagers alleged that despite construction of overhead tanks under the Jal Jeevan Mission, regular supply has not started in many rural areas. Women said they queue up before sunrise every day to collect limited water from a single well. Ajmer city too witnessed protests over irregular drinking water supply amid the scorching heat. Residents demonstrated outside the Gulab Bari Pump House, breaking earthen pots and accusing PHED of supplying water only once every four days for barely an hour. Protesters complained of low pressure, irregular timings and lack of response from officials. PHED, however, maintained that most areas were receiving supply at 48-hour intervals and blamed temporary technical issues linked to pipeline work for disruptions....