Vijayawada: CPI state secretary Gujjula Eswaraiah urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to immediately declare all rain‑deficit mandals as drought‑hit and launch emergency relief measures to protect farmers reeling under El Niño’s impact. Against the normal 225 mm, the state has received only 104 mm so far-a 56 per cent shortfall. Twenty‑one of 28 districts are in severe drought, with 608 mandals recording deficient rainfall. The normal kharif area is 30.84 lakh hectares, but only 16.35 lakh hectares are under cultivation. Eswaraiah said the drought must be treated as an emergency and relief measures taken on a war footing to safeguard livelihoods.