Kathmandu, July 23 -- An emergency cabinet meeting held on Wednesday has declared Nepal's Madhesh province a disaster crisis zone as severe drought hit the nation's breadbasket. The unusual absence of rain in the southern plains of Nepal during the mid-monsoon has pushed the region into a state of crisis.

Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday informed the parliament that the cabinet had made a decision based on the situation in the southern plains.

"A cabinet meeting today declared the Madhesh Province a disaster crisis zone. It means the budget which are required at the time of disaster can also be used urgently," Oli said.

The decision was made based on a proposal by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The severe drought has aff...