Bengaluru, July 20 -- Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said the state was facing an alarming rainfall deficit, with reservoir levels dropping sharply. He directed officials to treat drinking water security as the top priority while preparing for a possible drought declaration and seeking Central assistance. Chairing a special Cabinet meeting followed by a nearly four-hour review with deputy commissioners, zilla panchayat chief executive officers and senior officials from multiple departments, Shivakumar said rainfall was nearly 60 per cent below normal in large parts of the state and instructed the administration to intensify field-level drought management measures. "Karnataka is facing a massive rainfall deficit. Sowing is at 32%. Around 82% of the districts, except five to six districts, are facing deficient rainfall," he said. "Reservoirs are staring at dead storage, so the priority remains drinking water. Officers should go to the fields and take stock of the situation. Any anomaly or misdeeds will be dealt with seriously," the chief minister directed officials. Deputy CM G Parameshwara, who also reviewed the drought situation with Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs, said the state had recorded a 68% rainfall deficit....