Bhubaneswar, June 14 -- A severe drinking water crisis has been troubling the residents of Padmapalli village under Jhadabandha panchayat in Dharakote block of Odisha's Ganjam district for the past three years, sources said on Sunday.

Despite the presence of a water tank, solar-powered infrastructure, and household pipeline connections, villagers claim that no water has been supplied through the system for years.

The village, home to around 30 tribal families and nearly 100 residents, has been struggling to access safe drinking water. With the piped water supply remaining defunct, women are forced to walk to nearby agricultural fields to collect water for daily use.

Villagers say the situation becomes even more difficult during the sum...