According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), water storage in 178 key reservoirs dropped to 70% of total capacity by 24 September 2026, lower than the 10-year average of 76.62% and last year's 79%. The southern region, covering Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, had just 50% storage compared with 87.25% a year earlier. IMD data showed South India received 23% below-normal rainfall as of 28 September. The report covered 92 reservoirs in the southern, eastern and northern regions and came alongside drought declarations in Maharashtra and Karnataka.