Dharmasthala: The historical Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade has requested devotees and tourists to postpone their plans to visit the religious centre.

“All over India, water is becoming scare day by day in the scorching heat of summer. Even in our Dakshina Kannada district, people are struggling for water. Due to rationing, people are getting water only two or three times a week. The flow of water in the nearby Netravati River has severely decreased, and this has impacted Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala too. Therefore, it is not possible to provide water for the needs of devotees visiting the temple. Please postpone your visits for some time,” requested Mr Heggade in a press release.

Besides Dharmasthala, many other religious places are facing the heat of water shortage. The people along the coast have resorted to divine intervention and started praying for early monsoon. During the last two days, tender coconuts were offered in prayers at Kadri temple.

The Muslim community has been conducting regular prayers in this concern while the Christian community too has scheduled to gather for a mass prayer for rain on a call given by the bishop of Mangaluru.