The first train transporting water to drought-hit Marathwada will reach Latur later today. A railway official said the 50-wagon train, which can carry 2.75 lakh litres of water, reached Miraj on Sunday afternoon.

The wagons, which are used to transport fuel and oil, were steam-cleaned to remove traces of these substances.

Marathwada is reeling under a severe drought with most of its dams drying up and providing residents drinking water is proving to be a challenge. Currently, villages in the area get water once every 10-12 days.

The Sangli district administration is working day and night to complete the 2,700-metre supply line to bring water from the railways' filter house to the railway yard. The work, at a cost of Rs 1.84 crore, started on Saturday morning. "We need at least four to six days to complete the pipeline. At present, we are filling the wagons as a trial run. After it, we can regularise the water supply in the next four to six days," collector Shekhar Gaikwad said.