New Delhi, July 6 -- India's monsoon got off to an unusually weak start this June, recording the fifth lowest monthly rainfall since the record began in 1901. This offered little relief to river basins and reservoirs drawn down by summer heat.

By mid-June, Mumbai's lakes held barely a month's worth of water, while Pune moved to alternate-day supply as its reservoirs fell to a fifth of capacity. High groundwater extraction, declining per capita water availability and uneven rainfall continue to expose deeper structural weaknesses in India's water security.

Mint explores:

Reservoir storage recorded one of its steepest declines in recent years between the end of April and the end of June as an exceptionally hot summer depleted water level...