Over 70% of India faces drought despite smaller monsoon deficit

Around 70.6% of India's land area faced dry or drought conditions this week despite the 2026 southwest monsoon ending with a 13% deficit, reports stated. States including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh declared formal droughts across hundreds of taluks and mandals. Uneven rainfall distribution and long dry spells led to crop failures and severe agricultural distress, reports added.