HYDERABAD: Already battling an erratic water supply, Hyderabadis have now been hit by an acute shortage of packaged water . With groundwater levels on a rapid decline, purified bottled water stocks too have taken a severe beating, leaving residents high and dry. The groundwater level in Marredpally has dropped 11.44 metres below ground level (MBGL).Most scarce, industry sources say, are the larger 20 and 25 litres packs that usually fly over their shelves first. “Apart from households, these cans are in high demand among companies, stores and offices. They move fast and in bulk. Even function hall owners and event managers require cans in big numbers,” said Jay Sheel, proprietor of a Secunderabad-based distributing unit, Govada Enterprises. According to him production has been slow over the last month.“The other day I went to a store in Alwal, I could not find a single 250ml pack from any of the branded companies. The staff told me that all the packs weregone,” said K Srinivas, a techie.With officials foreseeing no improvement in groundwater levels soon, dealers fear that the scarcity could be long drawn. “The shortage is certain to last till the heat ebbs,” said Anand Rathore, proprietor of Balaji Water World, Mallapur.