Villagers from Doparwadi and Chindhyachiwadi villages of Dhakne Gram Panchayat in Shahpur taluka, Thane district, have been hit by a severe water shortage. Women, children and men of the village have to trudge up to three kilometres along rocky, hilly paths balancing three pots on their heads every single day, risking life and limb for some water. In one instance, a desperate eight-months pregnant woman was forced to make the trudge. At present, the Zilla Parishad supplies drinking water to 96 villages in the taluka via tankers, but these are mostly emptied into wells near the foothills as human habitation is kilometres away. mid-day photographer SHADAB KHAN brings us some stark images from the ground.