Andhra Pradesh declares drought across 21 districts as monsoon rainfall falls 53% below normal

Andhra Pradesh announced a drought covering 21 of its 28 districts after the June-August rainfall deficit reached 53%, a shortfall attributed to the El Niño phenomenon. Government data showed an average of 197.6 mm received compared with the normal 424.3 mm for the same period. The drought status, declared for the Kharif season on October 1, affects districts such as Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Chittoor.

The India Meteorological Department reported that the monsoon arrived three days late, covered the country a day later than usual, and ended with a 12.6% deficit, making it the driest in 11 years. Similar conditions were reported in Maharashtra, where drought was declared in 74% of subdistricts. These developments raise concerns for agricultural output and water resources across the region.