More than 6,000 students at the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fuzhou city began their winter holiday earlier after a severe water shortage hit the neighborhood.

Students line up to replenish water at the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fuzhou city. [Photo/Xinhua]

Langqi town, where an extension of the university is, has had limited water availability from 6 pm to 6 am since Dec 20, meaning the residents and students have no source of water in the daytime.

Authorities attributed the predicament to a lingering drought since the autumn, which resulted in insufficient water storage at adjacent reservoirs in Mawei district.

The university had to let the students go on their winter holiday ahead of schedule after complaints of a water shortage to the superior went unanswered, according to an official with the university.

He said the problem had greatly affected the lives and studies of students, who are supposed to prepare for final tests for the semester.