Victims kin miss Apathbandhu ex-gratia

Warangal: True to the saying that Rohinilo rollu pagulutayi (mortars will break during the fortnight of Rohini Karte), the temperature in erstwhile Warangal district soared to phenomenal levels in the last few days. The sweltering heat wave made life miserable for the people, especially to those distressed sections, who earn their livelihood from the sweat of their brow.

Since the Rohini Karte entered on May 25, people started to succumb to heat wave like ninepins. Although the authorities have not recorded any deaths due to sunstroke, unconfirmed reports suggest that around 30 people succumbed to oppressive heat conditions. Mahabubabad district is reportedly the worst affected as far as death toll is considered, this despite the administration's efforts to bring awareness about the impending danger of sunstroke phenomenon.

Past 11 am with the temperatures constantly hovering above 44 degree Celsius, it's like an undeclared curfew across the erstwhile Warangal district with people closeting to their homes. But for the daily wage labourers, roadside fruit sellers and other petty vendors, no one is daring to come out on roads. Almost all the roads have been wearing a deserted look till the fall of dusk. Satirically saying, those, who are venturing out in the afternoon, are looking like astronauts with all protective gear to escape the sunbath.

The temperature recorded in Kamalapur mandal of Warangal Urban district, 47 degree Celsius, is the highest in the erstwhile Warangal. In fact, Kamalapur mandal, which recorded 46.3 degree Celsius on Tuesday, has been witnessing highest temperatures constantly compared to other places.

Even though 80-odd people had died due to sunstroke this summer, no case in this regard was registered so far, it's learnt. As a result, none of the victims' kin had so far claimed for the assistance they are entitled to from the government. It may be mentioned here that the State government provides a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the kin of those, who die of sunstroke under Apathbandhu scheme. It's necessary for the victims' kin to submit post-mortem report and copy of the FIR filed to claim ex gratia under Apathbandhu scheme.

"Either due to lack of knowledge or fearing red-tape, the victims' families are not coming forward to claim the ex-gratia," a senior official told The Hans India. He said that the outdated legislation has no relevance to the presentday situation.

The district medical and health officials said that they have organised awareness programmes besides releasing an advisory that dwells on precautionary measures to be taken during the summer. An epidemic ward also has been set up at the MGM Hospital to deal with the sunstroke cases.

On the other hand, heat wave has also cast its effect on the lives of animals and birds, especially chickens. Alone on Monday, 4,000 chickens succumbed to heat wave in Warangal Rural district.