Srinagar, Aug. 16 -- The UK's National Drought Group has issued an unusual appeal to citizens: delete old emails and unused photos. The reason? Data centres, which store and process digital information, consume massive amounts of water to keep their servers cool. By cutting down on stored data, officials argue, people can indirectly help ease pressure on the country's strained water resources amid a worsening drought.

Helen Wakeham, Environment Agency Director of Water, stressed that the situation is "nationally significant" and called for everyone to contribute. "Simple, everyday choices, such as turning off a tap or deleting old emails, really help the collective effort to reduce demand and preserve the health of our rivers and wildlif...