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Bengaluru, August 28, 2026: Karnataka Government has declared 101 taluks across the State as drought affected following a significant rainfall deficit during the current monsoon season.
According to Government Order No. RD 586 TNR 2026 dated August 27, 2026, 89 taluks have been classified as severely drought affected, while 12 taluks have been placed in the moderately drought-affected category. Declaration comes after a scientific assessment of rainfall and crop conditions. The Government said the situation between June 1 and August 21, 2026, has caused concern across several parts of Karnataka.
During this period, 29 districts recorded deficit rainfall, while only two districts received normal rainfall. At the taluk level, 176 taluks were in the deficit rainfall category and 15 were classified as having large rainfall deficits. Only 49 taluks recorded normal to excess rainfall. Drought declaration will take immediate effect and remain in force for six months from the date of the order, unless revoked earlier by the State Government.
Government Promises Immediate Relief
Deputy Commissioners have been directed to initiate relief measures in accordance with State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms. Government has also instructed district authorities to undertake joint crop-loss assessments on priority and submit their reports promptly so that eligible relief measures can be taken. Government said the drought situation will be reviewed every week, with rainfall forecasts and crop conditions being closely monitored. If conditions deteriorate, additional taluks may also be declared drought affected, the Government said.
CM Assures Farmers
In his statement, Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the distress faced by farmers because of inadequate rainfall was a matter of deep concern for the Government. He assured farmers that the Government was taking the situation seriously and would stand with them during the difficult period.
There is no need to worry. We are with you and will stand by you through this difficult period - DK Shivakumar, Chief Minister of Karnataka
89 Severely Drought-Affected Taluks
89 taluks declared severely drought affected are spread across several districts, including Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru South, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, Mandya, Ballari, Koppala, Raichur, Bidar, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Gadag, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Yadgir and Vijayanagar.
Among the major affected areas are Anekal, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru East, Yelahanka, Hosakote, Nelamangala, Kolar, Malur, Mulabagilu, Srinivasapura, Chikkaballapura, Chintamani, Gauribidanur, Tumakuru, Sira, Pavagada, Ballari, Gangavathi, Deodurga, Bidar, Basavakalyan, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Hassan, Mysuru and Hosapete, among others.
12 Taluks in Moderate Drought Category
Government has classified the following 12 taluks as moderately drought affected: Devanahalli – Bengaluru Rural, Davanagere – Davanagere, Maddur, Pandavapura in Mandya, Lingsugur and Raichur in Raichur, Koppa, Narasimharajapura, Tarikere in Chikkamagaluru, Somwarpet – Kodagu, Mundgod and Yellapur in Uttara Kannada.
Government's decision is expected to enable affected farmers to access relief measures under applicable drought-response norms, subject to the prescribed assessment and eligibility procedures.
Keywords
Karnataka drought 2026, drought affected taluks Karnataka, Karnataka rainfall deficit, 101 drought taluks, farmer relief Karnataka, SDRF drought relief, Citizen News Puttur