Bhubaneswar, May 26 -- In a striking protest against the persistent drinking water crisis, a large group of women undertook a nearly 20-kilometre padayatra (foot march) carrying earthen pots and water containers to the Block office in Odisha's Bolangir district on Tuesday.

The incident was reported from Nagaphena village under Belpada block, where women staged the unusual protest to draw the administration's attention to the severe shortage of drinking water in their area. Beginning early in the morning, the women set out on foot carrying traditional water pots and pitchers in a symbolic demonstration of the hardship they face every day due to the lack of a proper water supply.

According to reports, the villagers have been grappling wit...