With inadequate rainfall and depletion of groundwater sources, a sudden water scarcity has hit Visakhapatnam city, leaving residents across several parts struggling to meet their daily water requirements.The crisis has particularly affected areas such as Arilova, Yendada, Madhurawada and Bheemunipatnam, where even drinking water supplies have come under strain.The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has had to make emergency arrangements and step up water tanker operations to meet the water demand.The shortage has also triggered a sharp rise in demand for private water tankers, particularly among residents of apartments and large residential complexes. Several residents said that they were being forced to spend nearly ₹6,000 to procure water via tankers.Residents said that they had not witnessed such a water crisis in the city in several years. While many stressed the need to strengthen rainwater harvesting measures and improve groundwater recharge, Left party leaders staged protests in Arilova, alleging that the civic body had failed to ensure adequate drinking water supply.In response to the situation, the GVMC has launched a special ‘Dial-A-Tanker’ toll-free service to enable residents to request drinking water supplies. Within 48 hours of its launch, the civic body received nearly 1,000 requests, most of which were taken up for delivery.GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said that the corporation had implemented a special action plan and was making alternative arrangements to ensure that residents in water-scarce areas did not face hardship.He said: “Officials have been instructed to supply water to the affected areas on a war footing, with 102 tankers making nearly 400 trips a day.”Mr. Garg assured that the water levels in major reservoirs supplying water to the city were adequate and that the corporation was continuously monitoring their status. The water level in the Mudasarlova Reservoir was 154.11 feet, with the reservoir supplying around 0.50 MGD (2.27 MLD).“Considering the water requirements of areas surrounding Mudasarlova, priority supplies were being made to Arilova and Bheemunipatnam,” he said.Water is being transported from the Mudasarlova waterworks through GVMC and private tankers and supplied to Arilova and other areas based on requirements. The Commissioner also directed officials to conduct field-level quality checks of the water being supplied to residents.As of the night of August 8, the GVMC had received 977 requests through the Dial-A-Tanker service, of which 619 deliveries had been completed, Mr. Garg said.How to book a tankerLog in to the official GVMC website, gvmc.gov.in, and book a water tanker via ‘e-Booking’ → ‘Water Tanker Booking.’ Enter the required quantity of water, area, purpose, and other details.After submitting the request, an acknowledgement will be generated. Citizens can then access the request under ‘My Booking’ and complete the online payment through the ‘Make My Payment’ option.Citizens can contact GVMC on