Life in Gulbarga district in Karnataka has become unbearable in the scorching summer heat and drinking water contaminated with fluoride. More than 322 villages in the district are supplied water with a high flouride content. This is the only source of water for more than 25 per cent villages in the district. People are unaware of the serious deformities it can cause. The fluoride content is far above the permissible limit, and the water is not potable. Around 72 villages in the Surpur taluk have the highest level of fluoride. Surprisingly no action has been taken to rectify the situation. The district administration has announced that alternative water sources have been identified in 163 villages and that deflouradisation units have been installed in nine villages.