Six million people in Chongqing could be facing severe water shortages by the beginning of May due to persistent drought along the Yangtze River, according to a local meteorological expert.

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"The city will be lacking at least 500 million cubic meters of drinking and irrigation water and about six million people will be thirsty," said a local meteorologist on condition of anonymity.

Official figures show that the amount of water stored in Chongqing's reservoirs is around 1.17 billion cubic meters, less than half the normal storage.

The drought has left 1.5 million people and nearly 1 million livestock short of drinking water in 18 districts and counties.

In the worst-hit areas in the central and western parts of Chongqing, water supply is only 10 percent of demand, according to the municipal flood prevention and drought relief office.

About 1,600 people in two villages of Yubei district are relying solely on water wagons for supply of drinking water. While several other villages have rationed water and are seeking alternative sources to tackle the crisis.

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