Visakhapatnam district faces severe water shortage after 58% rainfall drop
India
Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh is dealing with a big water shortage this year; monsoon rainfall is down 58%.
From June to early September, the area got just 199.69mm of rain instead of the usual 479.49mm, causing groundwater levels to drop and putting a strain on city reservoirs.
El Nino blamed for dry spell
July saw the worst of it, with rainfall nearly 79% below normal.
August and September also stayed dry, making things tough for both farmers and city residents who rely on monsoon rains for their water needs.
Experts say El Nino and tricky weather patterns are behind this unusual dry spell.
While there's hope for relief from a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, steady heavy rain is urgently needed to turn things around.