Vijayawada, Oct. 2 -- The Andhra Pradesh government has declared 388 mandals in 21 districts as drought affected for the kharif season due to the El Nino effect. Chief Secretary G Sai Prasad declared the drought-affected mandals here today.

Of the total 388 drought-affected mandals, 283 are severely affected while 105 mandals are moderately affected.

Sai Prasad, who is also Principal Secretary of Disaster Management, said that drought is severe in the combined Guntur, Prakasam district and Rayalaseema region.

North Andhra districts of Vizinagaram and Anakapalli are also affected by drought under the influence of El Nino.

In fact, the drought hit mandals were to be declared by October 21.

However, the drought-affected mandals were decla...