Bengaluru, Sept. 23 -- Highlighting the worsening drought situation across Karnataka, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the immediate release of 50 per cent of the memorandum amount as interim financial assistance and the advance disbursal of the Central share of the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

In his communication to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister pointed out that 177 taluks across the state have officially been declared drought-hit due to severe rainfall deficits, with conditions likely to aggravate further in the coming months.

"The prolonged rainfall deficit has severely impacted agriculture, water availability, livestock and the rural econo...