Heat wave scorches Telugu States

147 dead in Telangana & 78 in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Normal life was crippled in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States on Friday following rise in the maximum temperatures. As many as 225 people lost their lives so far -- 147 in Telangana and 78 in AP. People living on the pavements are the worst-affected.

Heat-wave conditions have been sweeping Telangana for the past four days with all ten districts in the State recording day temperatures of at least 42 degrees Celsius. Hyderabad recorded 43.6 degrees Celsius at 5.30 in the evening on Friday. The maximum temperature recorded on Thursday was 45 degrees Celsius in some parts of Hyderabad. Temperatures in Khammam, Nizamabad, Nalgonda and Ramagundam soared to 47 degrees Celsius at 9.30 am on Friday.

The Met office issued severe heat-wave warning in the State for the next two days.Streets in most towns and cities wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors to escape the sweltering heat. Cool drink shops, sugarcane and other fruit juice vendors and coconut sellers are doing a brisk business.

The Met department said in its daily report on Telangana on Friday that severe heat-wave to heat wave conditions prevailed in some parts in Adilabad, Warangal, Hyderabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts.

The TS government issued "do’s and don'ts" for people, asking them not to venture out when the day temperatures are high. Parts of Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts are among the worst-hit by oppressive heat, Director of Hyderabad Met department Y K Reddy said.

Khammam was among the cities where severe heat conditions prevailed, he added. "Heat-wave conditions will continue till Sunday," Reddy stated.Heat-wave kills 21 in AP As many as 21 people have died in Andhra Pradesh till Thursday amid heat-wave conditions prevailing in north coastal region of the State, officials said on Friday. Eight lives were lost in East Godavari during the last three days where mercury soared from 42 to 45 degree Celsius, Collector H Arunkumar said.

Six people lost their lives due to sun stroke in Srikakulam, according to the District Revenue Officer. While five persons died in the last two days, one succumbed to heat stroke on Friday, he said. In Visakhapatnam, though the temperatures were below normal, humidity was high.

Two persons died in Padmanabha mandal, while a street vendor died due to sunstroke in Gopalapatnam during the last two days, the DRO said. Five deaths were reported from Vizianagaram during the last 48 hours, according to the District Public Relations Officer.