Farmers pack their bags as Chhattisgarh reels under drought

According to official sources, the water level at Tandula has gone down by 18 feet (28 per cent of its total capacity); the level at Gondly is down by 14 feet and up to 18 feet in Khorkhar. Therefore, no more water can be released, officials say.

According to sources in the administration, more than 1,100 villages are drought-affected in Raipur district. In Kashdol, Palari and Bilaigarh regions, more than 50 per cent of the crops have dried up.

A large number of farmers from Mara, Torpongi and Devri region took out a rally at the local electricity office on Friday and demanded that steps be taken to correct the erratic power supply.

These days a large number of farmers can be seen at the railway station. Most of them — from Saja and Bemetara regions of Durg district — say they are heading for the neighbouring states. Official sources confirmed migration of farmers from the drought-affected areas of Chhattisgarh.