The maverick mercury is taking a toll on railways now.

River Subernarekha, the main source of water for drinking and various platform chores in Hatia station, has gone almost dry in the scorching summer heat. The crunch situation has aggravated over the past few weeks and now the station, which needs over six lakh gallons a day, is receiving only 2.5 lakh gallons.

The acute shortage of water has badly affected the cleaning of trains, station premises and toilets. A helpless Ranchi division is therefore managing things by asking other stations to refill water for pantry and sanitation needs.

"To tide over the situation, we are using bare minimum water. We have also been taking help of other stations like Rourkela, Barkakana, Gomoh and Dhanbad, among others. We have apprised to the authorities of the state drinking water and sanitation department of the situation," Ranchi senior divisional commercial manager Niraj Kumar told The Telegraph.

Around 20 trains, including Rajdhani and Shatabdi, originate from Hatia station.

Besides the station, Hatia railway colony is also reeling under crisis where drinking water and sanitation department supplies water. "We are trying to do our daily chores using bare minimum water," said a railway official.

Kumar said things like drying up of river could not be managed unless there were abundant rainfall. "We need to manage with minimum water available for next the next one month or so, if monsoons do not get delayed," he added.