The government of Maharashtra declared drought conditions across approximately 74% of the state following an extended period of below-average rainfall, officials announced on Tuesday. The western Indian state, which includes Mumbai—India’s financial and commercial hub—is facing significant water shortages as the annual monsoon season comes to an end with a marked deficit in precipitation.

Maharashtra, home to around 130 million people and a key producer of cotton, soybeans, sugarcane, and pulses, has been severely affected by the weakened monsoon rains. The state’s farmers, many of whom rely on monsoon-dependent irrigation, are at heightened risk of crop losses that could threaten their livelihoods and prompt economic distress in rural communities.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that the government would take proactive measures to assess the extent of crop damage and provide timely support to farmers, farm laborers, and rural households impacted by the drought. “We stand firmly behind our farmer brethren during this crisis,” his office stated.

The nationwide meteorological department has linked the reduced rainfall to an intensified El Niño event, a climate phenomenon characterized by warmer Pacific Ocean temperatures that often lead to reduced rainfall in South Asia. The department warned of a monsoon season ending with significant deficits, jeopardizing agriculture and related sectors across the region.

In addition to Maharashtra, states in southern India such as Karnataka have also declared drought-affected areas and announced assistance programs for farmers dealing with similar conditions.

Climate scientists note that while El Niño occurs naturally, its impacts may be exacerbated by human-induced climate change, which increases atmospheric energy and moisture, potentially intensifying extreme weather patterns including droughts.

India’s monsoon, occurring between June and September, is crucial for sustaining agriculture and industry, supporting hundreds of millions of people across the country. The current rainfall shortfall underlines the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climatic variability and poses challenges for food security and rural economies in the affected regions.