Telangana declares 365 mandals drought-hit, 111 severely

The Telangana government has declared 365 mandals in 31 districts drought-affected for the 2026 kharif season, classifying 111 as severe and 254 as moderate, for six months. The state got 615.5 mm of rain from June to September against a normal 740.6 mm, a 17% deficit. Paddy area fell 18% and reservoir storage is far below capacity.