Sangli is reeling under one of the worst droughts, it has faced thus far. Most of its lakes and ponds have dried up. There is no water in the Agrani River for the last four years. Standing crops of sugarcane, maize, jowar and bananas have been burnt crisp in the blazing sun. Among the seven talukas around Sangli, the most affected are Jat, Atpadi, Khanapur, Kauthemahankal, Kadegaon, Palus and Tasgaon. There is severe drinking water shortage in the villages in these talukas. There has been below average rainfall in the last two years in these villages. The district collector has already submitted a report on the rainfall, sowing and harvesting of kharif crop in the region. More than 300 villages in these seven talukas are enveloped in drought. There was also no bounty in the form of parting showers this monsoon, which has added to their woes. These talukas are located on the eastern side, which seem to have been deprived of good rain. The Minister for Cooperatives and Guardian Minister of Sangli, Subhash Deshmukh, had visited these areas three days ago, to get first-hand experience. However, he did not spell out the steps that need to be taken by the government. The villagers are upset at not being assured of any help, and what the government plans to do to avert a humanitarian disaster remains a mystery thus far.