In a surprising development amid the Supreme Court's deliberations on Delhi's escalating water crisis, Himachal Pradesh has reversed its stance, asserting that it lacks surplus water available for allocation to the national capital.

This statement comes just a day after the hill state had initially announced the release of water intended for Delhi, stressing that any such supply must pass through Haryana.

As Delhi grapples with both a scorching heatwave and a severe water crisis, the Supreme Court intervened by directing the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of excess water to the national capital. Simultaneously, the court instructed Haryana to ensure the smooth facilitation of this water supply. The court emphasized that the shortage of drinking water in Delhi has reached a critical level, describing it as an "existential problem" for the city.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said the state has already released water. "We have released water. We have asked advocates to inform the Supreme Court about this. The water we have released, we are ready to give that water. There are no ifs and buts."