India, Sept. 21 -- With the water stock in dams and reservoirs across Marathwada falling to the lowest level in the state, at 46.19%, eight districts in the region are reeling under severe drought even as tanker deployment has nearly doubled in the past two weeks.

Prolonged dry spells during the monsoon have hit Marathwada the hardest, with rainfall received till September 20 at just 71% of the seasonal average compared to 85% across the state. The rainfall deficit and dry spells have stressed cash crops such as soybean and cotton, alongside staples like maize, tur (pigeon pea) and moong, officials said.

Deployment of tankers in the region for drinking water also shot up from 101 on September 6 to 196 this week, with Chhatrapati Sambhaj...