PRAYAGRAJ, May 30 -- A sharp decline of nearly a metre in the Yamuna's water level due to the ongoing heatwave has prompted the Jal Kal department to install four floating pumps in the river to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply during peak summer months. The pumps have been deployed particularly near the Karelabagh pumping station, where the falling river level has begun to challenge water extraction. Officials said the move is aimed at preventing shortages in different localities and maintaining a stable supply across the city. General manager of the Jal Kal department, Kumar Gaurav, said the situation had raised concern as the receding water level at Karelabagh could impact supply if immediate measures were not taken. He explained that the floating pumps would help maintain easy and continuous access to water even if the river level drops further. He warned that if the Yamuna continues to recede over the next two weeks before the monsoon arrives, the department may have to cut drinking water supply timings across all 80 wards of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC). The heatwave has not only affected water availability but also significantly increased demand. According to officials, the city's daily water requirement has increased by around 50 million litres per day (MLD), bringing the total demand to approximately 450 MLD against the existing supply of 410 MLD. This shortfall has put additional pressure on the city's water infrastructure, especially the 634 big and mini tubewells operating across eight zones. Officials said that continued stress on the system could force authorities to trim supply duration by 30 minutes to one hour if conditions do not improve. Currently, water is supplied from 4 am to 10 am and from 4 pm to 10 pm. However, officials clarified that recent disruptions in drinking water supply within city limits have been more closely linked to prolonged power outages than to increased demand alone. Official figures show that Prayagraj's water distribution network spans nearly 1,400 kilometres of underground pipelines and serves around 2.14 lakh registered households along with 232 public taps....