Drought Grips Telugu States: 388 AP Mandals Hit, Telangana Begins Review
AMARAVATI/HYDERABAD: Drought conditions have emerged as a major agricultural concern across the Telugu states after a weak and uneven 2026 southwest monsoon, with Andhra Pradesh identifying 388 drought-affected mandals across 21 districts and Telangana beginning an assessment to determine which of its mandals qualify for drought relief.
In Andhra Pradesh, the Kharif 2026 assessment identified 283 mandals as severely affected and another 105 as moderately affected, according to the state-level figures reported Thursday.
The assessment means drought conditions have been identified across a substantial portion of Andhra Pradesh, with Rayalaseema accounting for many of the worst-affected areas.
Kadapa Has 37 Drought-Affected Mandals
YSR Kadapa recorded the largest number, with 37 drought-affected mandals — 14 severe and 23 moderate.
Sri Sathya Sai district followed with 29 affected mandals, including 28 classified as severe. Nandyal, Anantapur, Palnadu and Prakasam each recorded 28 affected mandals.
Annamayya had 25 drought-affected mandals, Chittoor 24, Vizianagaram and Anakapalli 22 each, Markapuram 19, Krishna 17 and Bapatla 15.
The assessment extends beyond traditionally drought-prone Rayalaseema. Mandals in coastal Andhra Pradesh have also been included, reflecting the uneven distribution of rainfall during the kharif season.
Six Indicators Used to Assess Drought
The Andhra Pradesh government had directed officials to conduct a scientific assessment rather than rely on rainfall figures alone.
The exercise considers multiple indicators, including rainfall, crop coverage, groundwater conditions, soil moisture, satellite observations and reservoir storage.
The government has also directed officials to identify affected farmers so that proposals for assistance can be prepared.
Telangana Also Confronts Drought-Like Conditions
Across the border, Telangana is confronting its own rainfall shortage, although the state had not yet officially finalized its drought-affected mandals as of October 1.
Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials to assess conditions using drought-management guidelines and identify affected mandals. Officials were also asked to conduct field inspections where necessary to determine crop losses.
The Telangana government is considering several indicators rather than rainfall alone.
Under the guidelines cited during the review, a rainfall shortfall of 20% to 59% is considered deficient, while a deficit of 60% to 99% constitutes severe rainfall deficiency. Complete absence of rainfall represents the most extreme category.
Crop coverage is another indicator. Sown area below 85% of normal can indicate drought conditions, while coverage of 75% or less is considered an indicator of severe drought.
18 Telangana Districts End Monsoon With Deficient Rainfall
Telangana ended the June-September southwest monsoon with a significant rainfall shortfall.
Data reported at the end of the season showed the state received approximately 615.5 mm of rainfall against a normal 740.6 mm, a deficit of about 17%.
Although that statewide figure technically remains within the India Meteorological Department's “normal” category, because departures between -19% and +19% are classified as normal, the state average masks substantial regional disparities.
Eighteen of Telangana's 33 districts ended the monsoon in the deficient category.
Government data had already highlighted the worsening situation before the monsoon ended. The Telangana Directorate of Economics and Statistics reported cumulative rainfall of 567.8 mm against a normal 709.6 mm as of September 23, a deficit of 20%.
Some Telangana Mandals Faced Much Deeper Deficits
The district and mandal-level picture has been considerably more severe than the statewide average.
Earlier in September, Waddepalle in Jogulamba Gadwal district recorded a rainfall deficit of more than 70%, while Kethepalle in Nalgonda district also recorded a deficit exceeding 70%. Several other mandals were running at least 60% below normal rainfall at that stage of the season.
Farmers in some affected areas faced delayed sowing, poor germination and stress to rain-fed crops as prolonged dry spells continued through important stages of the kharif season.
By late September, reports indicated that hundreds of Telangana mandals were experiencing rainfall deficits. However, rainfall deficiency alone does not automatically mean every such mandal will receive an official drought declaration.
The state government is now examining rainfall, crop coverage and field-level agricultural conditions before determining the final list.
Andhra Pradesh Ahead of Telangana in Drought Assessment
The two states are therefore at different stages of the process.
Andhra Pradesh has completed its Kharif 2026 assessment and identified 388 drought-affected mandals — 283 severe and 105 moderate.
Telangana, meanwhile, has acknowledged drought-like conditions and ordered an assessment, but its final official list of drought-hit mandals is still awaited.
The distinction is important because an official drought declaration can determine subsequent administrative measures, including crop-loss assessment and proposals for government assistance.
With the southwest monsoon now over, attention in both states will turn to relief measures for affected farmers and whether post-monsoon rainfall provides any respite to areas that experienced prolonged dry spells during the kharif season.
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