First earthquake, now drought in Gujarat

With reservoirs and rivers drying up under a scorching sun, hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing their homes to escape drought in three Indian states, including earthquake-devastated Gujarat.

An opposition MP and newspapers reported 23 deaths from malnutrition and hot weather.

Wild deer, antelope and elephants are straying into villages in search of water in eastern Orissa state.

The capital, New Delhi, suffers power cuts of an hour or more several times a day, as the utility tries to distribute electricity to different neighbourhoods.

Demand for power to run fans and air conditioners exceeds supply.

Men and women walk up to seven miles daily to fetch water for their families to survive in the northwestern desert state of Rajasthan, grappling with a severe drought for a third year because monsoon rains have consistently failed.

Nearly 32 million people and 40 million cattle are suffering from the lack of water and shortage of food.

‘‘It’s one of the severest droughts in living memory. Out of 32 districts, 31 are facing acute shortage of water. More than 30,000 villages have about a 50 percent deficit in crop yield, jeopardising the lives of 32 million people,’’ said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Still recovering from a January earthquake that killed an estimated 30,000 people and buried towns and villages, neighbouring Gujarat is now battling drought.

Amarsinh Choudhary, a member of the opposition Congress party, said he knew of at least three deaths from malnutrition in north Gujarat.

‘‘It’s a twin tragedy for Gujarat,’’ Choudhary said. ‘‘First we had an earthquake and now a drought.’’