Marathwada's drought woes deepen amid weak Monsoon

Ansari Aejaz Ahmed Mumbai, Sep 28 (UNI) Marathwada is facing one of its most severe drought situations in recent years after a deficient 2026 monsoon left the eight-district region with a rainfall deficit of around 32 to 35 per cent. The region has received approximately 442 to 447 mm of rainfall against the normal 679.5 mm, with Latur recording only about 51 per cent of its expected rainfall. The Maharashtra government on September 26 formally declared drought in 265 of the state's 358 talukas under Trigger-1 of the Drought Management Code, 2016. The declaration covers 74 talukas in Marathwada. A…