Kasargod: Paucity of drinking water is gripping Kasargod with almost every well, lake, and river parched.

The large sprawling rivers have dried up and are wearing barren look. It is only because of the bridge across the river that people identify the existence of the water body here. Otherwise it is a playground for children as of now.

The streams and lakes that used provide adequate water during the dry season for irrigation purposes have dried up in March itself, leaving people in state of despair wondering how to spend two more dry months.

Pathwady river and Puthige lake, two major source of water supply to Uppal and nearby areas have dried up completely.

The agricultural activities have taken a beating due to shortage of water supply and as a result the crops have started withering away.

The locals say that it was not many years ago that they used to drill borewells of 150 to 350 ft and find potable water, but now the situation is so critical that even when the bores are drilled up to 450 to 500 ft, there is no trace of water. This is an indication to the precarious fact that the underground water table has been affected.

All in all the people of the district are now pinning hopes on divine intervention soon so that it rains and they are saved from a drought situation.