India, Oct. 7 -- With 73% of Maharashtra's villages facing severe drought, the state government on Tuesday fast-tracked damage assessments to expedite central relief funds for farmers. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that a central government team will begin field evaluations from Wednesday till Sunday to assess the crisis. Recorded by a state team, the crisis impacts 32,823 of the state's 44,911 villages and is expected to worsen in the coming days.

The state government recently announced the drought in 265 of 358 talukas of the state subsequent to a weak monsoon this year. Last week, it sent a proposal to the Centre for interim financial relief of Rs.13,000 crore for the loss of crops and Rs.4500 crore for fodder. "This is on the...