Chennai: Water crisis intensified in Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai and restaurants have urged customers to spend water judiciously and have even conveyed that they are unable to offer meals for lunch.

Reports suggest that restaurateurs stated that this is the first time in history where they have to shut shop due to water crisis.

News agency ANI quoted Narayana, manager of Hotel Ananda as saying, "We don't want our customers to get affected due to the water crisis and that's why we are buying water from outside. However, we seek our customers help and support in conserving water."

Moreover, if the crisis deepens, we may stop offering meals for noon as large quantity of water is required to prepare the food items and further consumption, he said.

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Chennai is reeling under acute water crisis since most of the water reservoirs in the state have reached its lowest level.

As the crisis deepens, opposition leader and DMK chief MK Stalin demanded the resignation of municipal administration minister SP Velumani and urged Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to dismiss him from the Cabinet if he refused to quit. The Madras high court, too, has sought a report from the government on the looming water crisis.

“Several establishments have been closed due to the water crisis. It has gone to a point where IT companies are asking their employees to work from home. Does the Municipal Administration Minister who is busy with corruption have an answer for this?” Stalin said in a statement.

But this crisis does not pertain to Chennai alone. Situation across Tamil Nadu remains the same.

Tamil Nadu faces a heat wave and the meteorological department (MeT) officials have advised citizens not to venture out between 11 am and 4 pm.

Also read: Heatwaves to continue in Tamil Nadu, Telangana; respite for Kerala, Karnataka

The MeT office has warned that three districts — Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai — will experience severe heat wave conditions.

The northern parts of the state, especially Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Karur and Trichy districts will continue to experience heat wave conditions till June 18.

The public have been advised not to expose themselves to direct sunlight between 11 am and 4 pm to avoid sunstroke, a press release from DR Krishnan, duty officer, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said.