In the searing heat of northern India's Bundelkhand region, where temperatures exceed 40C and water scarcity persists due to drought, caste divisions are exacerbating existing water disparities. Dalits, historically marginalized groups in India's caste hierarchy, find themselves subjected to discrimination at handpumps, the primary sources of drinking water for many villages. Dalit residents like Mamta and Shiv describe being forced to wait for hours while upper-caste families use the pumps, with some even pouring water over them to 'cleanse' them after use. The region, known for its drought-prone terrain and unpredictable rainfall, has seen temperatures rise over the past century and faces increasingly severe summer heat waves. Local officials dispute claims of caste discrimination or water shortages, but Dalit residents insist that informal queues have developed to avoid confrontations. Conflicts over water access are on the rise as more families compete for scarce resources, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to address caste-based inequalities and promote equitable access to water resources in Bundelkhand.