State of Drought

Marathwada’s 28,523 perennially drought-affected villages pray desperately that the rains will be kinder this year; Kerala’s Groundwater Department serves notice about the state heading into a severe drought with groundwater levels in most parts declining from 75 cm to 2 metres; and Tamil Nadu, already a victim of the parsimonious north-east monsoon, declaring 24 entire districts drought hit along with 38 blocks in seven districts.