Telangana Drought-Affected Mandals | Hyderabad, Oct 27: The Telangana government has declared 365 mandals across 31 districts as drought-affected for the Kharif 2026 season, citing a sharp rainfall deficit during the South West Monsoon. Of these, 111 mandals fall in the “Severe” category and 254 in the “Moderate” category. According to the government order, the notification is valid for six months from the date of publication unless withdrawn earlier.
The order says the state received 615.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 30, against a normal of 740.6 mm, a deviation of 17 per cent. It attributes the deficit to emerging El Niño conditions, weak low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal and prolonged dry spells. Eighteen of the state’s 33 districts recorded deficit rainfall.
The Kharif crop area fell from 139.28 lakh acres to 126.06 lakh acres. Paddy was hit hardest, with its area down 18 per cent, from 69.19 lakh acres to 57.00 lakh acres. Live storage in major and medium reservoirs stands at 179.63 TMC against a capacity of 585 TMC, which the government says raises risks for drinking water, agriculture, livestock and power.
Telangana Drought-Affected Mandals | Drought-hit mandals and relief measures ordered
Nalgonda has 28 mandals on the list, with the majority classed severe. All 13 mandals each in Jogulamba Gadwal and Narayanpet are severe. Nagarkurnool has 10 of 13 mandals severe, Vikarabad 11 of 20, Khammam 10 of 17 and Wanaparthy 6 of 11.
Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Hanumakonda, Jagtial, Jangaon, Karimnagar, Kamareddy, Mahabubabad, Mahabubnagar, Mancherial, Medak, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Mulugu, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Rajanna Sircilla, Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy, Siddipet, Suryapet, Warangal and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri are also on the list. Several of them, including Jagtial, Karimnagar, Mahabubabad, Mancherial, Mulugu and Nizamabad, have mandals in the moderate category.
Officials used a two-stage assessment under the National Manual for Drought Management, 2016 (updated 2020). Rainfall and dry-spell data formed the first trigger. For the second, a mandal had to show impact in any three of four areas: agriculture, vegetation condition, soil moisture and groundwater. Surveys covered 10 per cent of villages in each mandal. The Cabinet sub-committee on El Niño impact and drought conditions reviewed the proposals on October 23 and recommended the declaration.
District Collectors have been told to begin relief work. The measures include input subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer, more drinking water supply, fodder and cattle camps where needed, and employment under VB-G RAM G. Collectors will also take up with the State Level Bankers’ Committee the restructuring of farm loans and a halt to coercive recovery, as RBI guidelines permit.
The Agriculture and Cooperation Department must pay input subsidy within one month of receiving Central assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Beneficiary lists are to be published on government websites. The Planning Department must prepare a memorandum to the Centre seeking NDRF assistance within seven days.
Urban and municipal areas within the affected mandals are excluded from the declaration, though they will be treated on par for drinking water. Mandals not on the list will stay under monitoring and could be added by a supplementary notification.
The order refers to a resolution the Assembly passed unanimously on September 18 on the rainfall deficit due to El Niño. It urged the Centre to send an assessment team, sanction NDRF assistance, release the state’s SDRF share and provide a special relief package of ₹20,000 crore. It also sought 50 additional days of work under VB-G RAM G at full Central cost, more fertiliser, 1,500 MW of additional power and a higher borrowing limit of 3.5 per cent of GSDP for 2026-27, up from 3 per cent.
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