Telangana groundwater levels drop as rainfall deficit reaches 24 per cent
Average groundwater levels in the state fell to 8.28 metres below ground level in October due to a significant rainfall deficit.
Average groundwater levels in Telangana dropped to 8.28 metres below ground level (m bgl) in October 2026, down from 7.52 m bgl in September, according to a report by The Hindu. This decline occurred as the state recorded a 24 per cent rainfall deficit between June 1 and October 31, up from 17 per cent at the end of September.
The State Ground Water Department's October report, based on monitoring through 1,771 Piezometres, noted that Vikarabad recorded the deepest average groundwater level at 13.54 m bgl. Jagtial recorded the shallowest level at 4.21 m bgl. Nearly 8 per cent of the state area showed moderately deep or very deep-water levels.
Ten districts recorded average water depths exceeding 10 m bgl, including Sangareddy, Rangareddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Mahabubnagar, Medak, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Hyderabad, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, and Kamareddy. Conversely, Jagtial, Khammam, Mahabubabad, and Mancherial recorded levels of less than 5 m bgl.
The state government has declared 365 mandals in 31 districts as drought-affected for Kharif-2026. Of these, 111 mandals are classified as severely drought-affected and 254 as moderately affected. The state received 628 mm of rainfall against a normal of 831 mm.
Officials from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments said groundwater levels may deplete further in the coming months. They have urged farmers to skip paddy and choose less-water intensive crops for the Yasangi (Rabi) season.