Bhupati Bhusan Mahto, a 64-year-old farmer in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district, is worried about his farming, as over 90 per cent of his paddy field remains uncultivated, with a drought-like situation prevailing in the state. He is not alone.

Bhupati, from Dhokra village, said a cost of Rs 4,000 for the paddy cultivation has drained as his fields mostly remained dry, and he incurred a huge loss. Gopal Chandra, 46, from Baliapur block of the district, is also in distress.