Children in India risk lives by climbing down well to fetch water

A group of children in India has made a daring attempt to source water, as the country faces one of the worst droughts in decades. 

A video, shot in the village of Dindori in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, shows the moment the children climb down the side of an almost dry well, without harnesses or ropes, as their friends look on. 

Once at the bottom, they find only a small amount of muddy water, but fill their buckets with what they can. 

The video is just one example of how the people of India are trying to survive without decent rainfall. 

According to MashableMashable the shortage has been dubbed the country’s worst water crisis in more than a decade.

The government is attempting to alleviate the strain by bringing water in on trains to help those struggling. 

Thousands of people, mostly poor farmers, have had to leave the worst affected Marathwada region because of the water shortage. 

Last year around 1,400 farmers reportedly committed suicide in the region over crop failure from a lack of water, and an inability to meet loan payments. 

But it is hoped relief might be on the way - reports suggest above-average rains are forecast for this summer. 

(With AAP)