Rain has returned to much of Asia, including the southern Indian city of Chennai where the first monsoon downpours have been buffeting the city since late last month.
But all four of the city's reservoirs have run dry and analysts warn that rapid urbanisation plus poor planning and maintenance mean many parts of Asia remain vulnerable to severe shortages as demand for water grows. Climate change is driving up temperatures and causing more extreme swings in the weather, including more intense droughts.
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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 06, 2019, with the headline World Focus: Living with droughts and dry taps. Subscribe