Violence in southern India as top court orders water sharing

Two trucks that came from the neighboring Tamil Nadu state go up in flames during violence in Bangalore, Karnataka state, India, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. India's top court on Monday ordered the southern state of Karnataka to release water from a disputed river to neighboring Tamil Nadu after violence erupted in both states over water sharing. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (The Associated Press)

Indian youth walk past as two trucks that came from the neighboring Tamil Nadu state go up in flames during violence in Bangalore, Karnataka state, India, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. India's top court on Monday ordered the southern state of Karnataka to release water from a disputed river to neighboring Tamil Nadu after violence erupted in both states over water sharing. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (The Associated Press)

Pro-Karnataka activists are joined by others as they shout slogans against neighboring Tamil Nadu state, during violence in Bangalore, Karnataka state, India, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. India's top court on Monday ordered the southern state of Karnataka to release water from a disputed river to neighboring Tamil Nadu after violence erupted in both states over water sharing. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (The Associated Press)

India's top court has ordered the southern state of Karnataka to release water from a disputed river to neighboring Tamil Nadu after violence erupted in both states over water sharing.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) every day to Tamil Nadu. Farmers in both states have complained of severe water shortages.

The Cauvery River, which originates in Karnataka and flows into Tamil Nadu, has been the source of a bitter water dispute for decades. Karnataka told the court it did not have enough water reserves to share.

Earlier Monday, protesters in Tamil Nadu vandalized a hotel owned by people from Karnataka, triggering violent protests in both states.