Bengaluru, Sept. 7 -- Karnataka's worsening rainfall deficit could push the state deeper into drought-like conditions in the coming weeks, with 26 more taluks likely to be added to the drought-hit list within a week, officials said.

Of the state's 239 taluks, 102 have already been declared drought-hit. The continued weakness of the southwest monsoon has raised concerns over agricultural and horticultural production, with preliminary estimates indicating that the state could lose nearly 50 per cent of its crop yield this season if the dry spell persists.

Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Kolar and Chikkaballapur are among the districts severely affected by the rainfall shortage. In northern Karnataka, Haveri, Bidar and Raichur have...