At least 45 people died due to sunstroke during the past fortnight in Andhra Pradesh. In Telangana, about 66 people died in the past 42 days, taking the combined death toll of heat waves to 111 officially, while the actual numbers could be higher.
Temperatures ranging from 45 to 46 degrees centigrade were recorded in 152 places and 225 places of the state saw 43 to 45 degrees of temperature. Tadepalli Gudem in West Godavari was the hottest in the state with 47 degrees. East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Prakasam and Nellore districts continue to reel under the heat wave.
Electrical transformers in several places of Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh blew up disrupting power supply for more than five hours. The severe temperature is said to be the reason for this.
With frequent power problems due to heavy demand of 2400 MW in Andhra Pradesh and problems in thermal power generation and hydro-electric power generation, residents in many districts were affected severely. Roads and bus stands looked haunted in many places.
16 dead in one day
Meanwhile at least 16 people died due to heatwaves in Telangana during the past 24 hours. According to the state's Disaster Management Department, over 66 died due to sunstroke in the past 42 days in Telangana. Many of them were old and a few were homeless. A farmer waiting to sell his paddy in Nizamabad district lost his life on his paddy heap at the road side.
Khammam, Siddipet, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, Kumram Bheem, Asifabad, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagital, Rajanna Sircilla, Peddapalli, Bhupalapalli and Medchal recorded temperatures varying from 45.6 to 46 degrees.
Revenue officials informed that over 1600 people were admitted in different hospitals with symptoms of heat stroke. Coal miners were advised to stay away from deep mine work in the Singareni collieries. Cement companies in Suryapet district revised shift timings to save the workers from severe heat.
The health department has advised people to stay away from direct sun rays between 11 am and 4 pm and to carry sufficient drinking water. All government health centers have been advised to stock sufficient ORS packets for free distribution.
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