Janakpur, July 16 -- Amid Nepal's monsoon season, Madhesh Province is facing an acute water shortage, prompting the provincial government to mobilise fire engines and other vehicles to deliver water to affected communities.

Traditional water sources are drying up due to prolonged drought conditions, and various districts including Bara and Parsa are among the hardest hit. Officials said residents in other areas are also struggling after hand pumps and tube wells stopped working.

To address the crisis, Madhesh Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh on Wednesday deployed eight fire engines stationed in Janakpur.

The fire engines were purchased by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Communications and Law at the end of the last fiscal year, but they...