Kharge Seeks Rs 3,705 Crore in Karnataka Drought Aid

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to provide urgent central assistance to Karnataka, which he says is facing severe drought. Kharge said the state had sought Rs 3,705.30 crore in disaster-relief funding against estimated losses of Rs 18,748.23 crore. The reports do not establish whether the Union government has acted on the request. In a letter shared publicly, Kharge called for the full amount sought by Karnataka to be sanctioned and released. He also asked for a central team to visit Kalyana Karnataka to assess drought damage on the ground. The figures and description of the situation are attributed to Kharge and the state’s request; the material available does not include an independent assessment of the losses or a response from the Union government. Kharge said rainfall in Karnataka was 58% below normal as of September and described widespread crop losses and distress among farming families. He cited estimated damage of Rs 18,748.23 crore. Those figures were presented as part of his appeal for assistance, rather than as independently verified measurements.