Drought declared in three-quarters of India's richest state
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
MUMBAI: Drought has hit three-quarters of India's richest state of Maharashtra, the government said on Saturday (Sep 26), after prolonged low rainfall in the region home to the megacity of Mumbai.
The declaration in Maharashtra came after the national weather department forecast India would end its annual monsoon season with a rainfall deficit, threatening farmers' livelihoods.
A stronger-than-usual El Nino climate phenomenon, which typically brings drier conditions to South Asia, has also led to abnormal rain patterns, the weather department has said.
The government of Maharashtra, a huge western state whose capital Mumbai is India's financial and commercial centre, said drought was present across 74 per cent of the territory.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the administration stood "firmly behind our farmer brethren" during the crisis.
The government will assess crop damage and "ensure that farmers, farm labourers and rural families receive the necessary assistance in a timely manner", his office said.
Hundreds of millions of people in India depend on the June-to-September monsoon to bring vital rains that sustain agriculture and industry.
Maharashtra has a population of 130 million and is a major agricultural state that produces cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and pulses.
Many farmers depend on rain for irrigation and are highly vulnerable to crop failures, which can push whole families into financial crisis.
The impact of low rainfall is also being felt in southern India, where Karnataka state has also announced aid for farmers in drought-hit areas.
El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific that can change wind and rainfall patterns around the world.
Scientists say human-caused climate change can amplify its effects by making more energy and moisture available to fuel extreme weather.
Newsletter
Morning Brief
Subscribe to CNA’s Morning Brief
An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app