Impact of El Niño in Andhra Pradesh: Migration of 10,000 families from Kurnool

In the past few months, the El‑Niño wave that developed in the Asia‑Pacific has increased the irregularity of the monsoon across the Indian subcontinent. In particular, in the northern part of Andhra Pradesh, in the district of Kurnool, the amount of rainfall has fallen by as much as 40 % from the average, causing water sources to drop severely and resulting in heavy losses in agricultural production. The main livelihood of this area depends on crops such as rice, barley, and peas; due to the drought, crop failure occurred and the water‑filled ponds and wells also dried up, leaving rural families facing a shortage of drinking water as well.

As a result, according to local administration data, about ten thousand families have migrated from Kurnool to neighboring states such as Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu to meet their basic needs. These migrants mainly used public transport and private vehicles, while many families are sheltering in temporary camps and in friends’ and relatives’ houses. During the migration they are facing challenges such as employment instability, lack of health services, and educational disruption. The state government has announced that, as immediate relief, it will provide food rations, water supply, and primary health care to migrant families, as well as accelerate water‑conservation projects in rural areas and encourage the sowing of drought‑resistant crops.