Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu asks officials to declare drought-hit mandals in Andhra Pradesh on October 1
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directed Andhra Pradesh officials to officially label drought‑affected mandals on Oct. 1, urging a scientific review of rainfall deficits linked to El Niño. He advocated expanding micro‑irrigation to protect crops and assured there would be no shortage of drinking water. Preliminary data for the 2026 Kharif season project El Niño impacting 513 mandals, with 268 facing severe conditions.