Heat claims 58 lives in two days

As many as 58 people perished due to the intensely prevailing heat wave on Wednesday and Thursday in 11 districts across the State. On Thursday alone, when the maximum temperature touched 43 degrees Celsius, in all regions of the State, 19 people succumbed to ailments caused by severe heat.

Thirty-nine people died on Wednesday, with Warangal topping the list with 10 deaths. While six died in Karimnagar, four each succumbed to heat in Adilabad, Khammam, Nalgonda. There were five deaths in Krishna, two each in Guntur and Nizamabad. One person each died in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam districts.

Of the 19 deaths on Thursday, three occurred in Adilabad, Karimnagar and Warangal, while two breathed their last in East Godavari district. One person each died in Mahbubanagar, Nalgonda, Srikakulam, Krishna, Nellore, Prakasam and Kadapa districts. The dead in Karimanagar included an Intermediate first year student, Rakesh Reddy of Kothirampur.

He was studying in a private junior college in Warangal. He died while travelling in a bus from Warangal to Karimnagar after appearing for the inter supplementary examination.

The conductor had given him a ticket to Kothirampur. As he was not moving in the seat, the conductor and other passengers sprinkled water on the victim's face, but it did not help. The APSRTC officials at the bus stand and police were informed. Police visited the bus stand and registered a case.

Rentachintala recorded the day highest maximum temperature of 47 deg C, followed by Ramagundam (46), Nizamabad (45.5), Medak, Nalgonda, Warangal, Nandigama and Ongole (45), Hyderabad, Mahbubnagar, Nellore, Gannavaram and Bhadrachalam (44), Tirupati and Ranga Reddy (43), Tuni 42, Kakinada 41, Visakhapatnam 39.

Experts attribute the extreme weather conditions in the State to the blowing of hot winds from the Northern region. Such conditions will continue for four or five days, the Met office warned and advised people to be alert and take adequate precautions.

In coastal Andhra and Telangana high temperatures will prevail. The impact of the hot sun is so severe that maximum temperatures are being recorded in the morning itself. A In Telangana the severity of heat is high. The region is virtually boiling.

Meanwhile, the Met office has forecast rain or light showers in some areas of the State because of the prevalence of the low pressure. Heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is likely in one or two places. Till Wednesday morning rain or light showers occurred in Kalingapatnam and some coastal areas. The weather in Telangana and Rayalaseema was dry.