India, Sept. 26 -- Over the last four days, unusual rainfall in large parts of the state -- 30 districts in four regions, especially the politically sensitive Marathwada - has washed away farmlands and villages. It is estimated 50 lakh hectares of land have been affected by the devastation and the number of affected farmers is likely to cross 3.5 million.

As farmers are not just staring at losses but also the possibility of a year or more without any crop due to the erosion of soil in the affected farmlands, they are demanding compensation packages as well as farm loan waivers. The demands have come at a time when the state is facing an estimated revenue deficit of Rs.45,892 crore in the 2025-26 financial year, and finding it difficult t...