Karnataka faces worst drought in 60 years as monsoon fails

Karnataka is facing one of its worst droughts in recent times as the monsoon season winds down. Reservoirs in the Cauvery basin have hit their lowest water storage levels in six years. The Krishna basin is dependent on water from Maharashtra, which is experiencing flooding. Key Cauvery dams show critically low levels: KRS dam holds 17.13 tmc ft against its 49.45 tmc ft capacity, compared to 48.06 tmc ft last year at the same time. Harangi and other reservoirs are similarly depleted.

Poor monsoon rainfall across major catchment areas is to blame. Kodagu received 45% less rain, Mysore 58% less, and Chikkamagaluru 42% less than normal. Districts in the Krishna basin also saw scanty rainfall, affecting multiple reservoirs. State minister KH Muniyappa said conditions in the last 60 years have never been this severe.

Agricultural activities in northern Karnataka have stalled as borewells dry up in districts like Bidar, Kalaburgi, Raichur, and Koppal, which received minimal rainfall.