As the water crisis in Delhi seems to be worsening and the national capital is grappling with scarcity of water, the Delhi Police on Thursday began patrolling the crucial Munak Canal area to prevent illegal suction of water by the tanker mafia.

Meanwhile, Delhi minister Atishi also inspected a pipeline network, which is supplying water to the residents living in South Delhi.

According to a senior officer, police teams have set up pickets and started patrolling the 15-kilometre stretch of the canal on the Haryana borders. This canal enters the national capital from Bawana and reaches the Haiderpur Treatment Plant. Teams from Bawana, Narela Industrial Area, Shahbad Dairy, and Samai Pur Badali police stations have been deployed for the patrol duty. "Police personnel have been asked to prevent anyone from taking water from the canal in their tankers," the officer said as reported by TimesNow.

Several videos of residents resorting to desperate measures for water are circulating on social media.

The video shows residents running behind a water tanker in Chanakyapuri's Vivekananda Camp. A couple of men can be seen climbing the ladder behind the tanker even before the vehicle comes to a halt. Within seconds, over 15 residents climb atop the tanker, while people on the ground hand hoses to them. People are seen filling their buckets, containers, and drums to cope with the severe water crisis. A couple of policemen are also seen in the video.

On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena instructed the Delhi Police chief to closely monitor the Munak canal to stop water theft and requested a report on actions taken within the week.