{
  "id": 9976055,
  "title": "Drought declared in three-quarters of India's richest state",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/drought-declared-in-three-quarters-of-indias-richest-state-9976055",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T12:03:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40441350/drought-declared-in-three-quarters-of-indias-richest-state"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Drought has struck 74% of Maharashtra, India's wealthiest state, the government announced on Saturday, following abnormally low rainfall in the region that houses Mumbai, the nation's financial hub. Maharashtra's administration declared the drought due to the national weather department's forecast predicting that India would conclude its annual monsoon season with a rainfall shortfall, which could jeopardize farmers' livelihoods. The prolonged El Nino climate phenomenon, known for bringing drier conditions to South Asia, also contributed to the irregular rain patterns, according to the meteorological department. Maharashtra, a massive western state with Mumbai as its capital and commercial center, reported that drought conditions were present across 74% of its territory. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pledged the government's unwavering support for farmers during this challenging period. The government plans to evaluate crop damage and swiftly provide necessary assistance to farmers, farm workers, and rural families, his office stated. Given that hundreds of millions of people in India rely on the monsoon rains from June to September for agriculture and industry, the drought's impact is profound. Maharashtra, home to 130 million people, is a major agricultural state producing cotton, soybeans, sugarcane, and pulses. Many farmers rely on rainfall for irrigation, making them highly susceptible to crop failures, which can plunge entire families into financial ruin. Similar effects are being observed in southern India, where Karnataka state has also extended aid to farmers in drought-affected areas. El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern characterized by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific, can alter wind and rainfall patterns globally. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change may exacerbate its effects by providing additional energy and moisture to fuel extreme weather events.",
  "summary": "MUMBAI: Drought has hit three-quarters of India’s richest state of Maharashtra, the government said on Saturday, 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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Drought declared in three-quarters of India's richest state",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/drought-declared-in-three-quarters-of-indias-richest-state",
        "published": "2026-09-26T11:00:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Drought declared in three-quarters of India's richest state",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/drought-declared-in-three-quarters-of-indias-richest-state-9974952",
        "published": "2026-09-26T11:42:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}