Maharashtra declares drought across most regions as poor monsoon dries up water sources

Maharashtra is facing a severe dry spell following poor rainfall, with the state administration officially announcing drought conditions in two hundred sixty-five out of three hundred fifty-eight talukas across regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha. Data from the India Meteorological Department shows that twenty out of thirty-six districts in the state have received low rainfall. ## Water Shortage Water storage in dams has dropped sharply compared to last year. Reservoirs in Marathwada are down to forty-six percent capacity from eighty-one percent, while Vidarbha's Amravati division has fallen to sixty-four percent from eighty-five percent. The severe lack of water heavily impacted the recent ten-day Ganesh festival. In Kalamb town of Dharashiv district, the local civic body had to fill temporary artificial ponds using water tankers and redirect tall idols to a stone quarry because the local Manjara river was completely dry. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Divisional Commissioner G. Sreekanth had urged groups to avoid traditional water immersions and opt for symbolic rites instead, but many communities continued with normal practices, with one group in Latur district even bringing their idol straight to the tehsil office to demand water. ## Wider Impact The crisis goes beyond festivals and hits agriculture and daily life hard. Sominath Gholwe, a farmer and researcher from Beed, stated that eighty-five percent of crops have failed in parts of the region, and families are now forced to use water tankers even for funeral rites like the dashkriya vidhi due to dry wells and depleted groundwater. Farmers like Madhuri Khadse from Yavatmal have handed over a memorandum to the District Collector asking for immediate financial support to stop an increase in farmer suicides. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the affected areas and promised that the state government will provide cash compensation, drinking water, foodgrains, and support for children's education.