Despite an early monsoon, Maharashtra faces drought conditions with multiple reservoirs in Beed and Dharashiv completely dry. Vidarbha and Konkan have the highest water stocks, yet overall water storage is at 20.21%, significantly lower than last year. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar region is hardest hit, with several major dams depleted. In Dharashiv, five out of nine major dams are also dry. The Nationalist Congress Party and Congress demand increased relief efforts, highlighting citizens’ struggles. State officials acknowledge the severity but assert it’s not as dire as the 2016 crisis.