JOIN USAn unprecedented heatwave across coastal Andhra Pradesh (AP) and parts of Telangana has claimed 432 lives.
Unofficial estimates, however, said that 807 people, 484 in AP and 323 in Telangana, have died due to the heatwave.
Vijayawada in AP recorded 47.3° Celsius, the highest in over a decade.The official toll by the Warangal (AP) collectorate for the district was 60 between February 1 and May 10, while the district health department claimed that no one in that list died of heat stroke. On the other hand, the local media reported 88 deaths in a matter of a week. The officials could be downplaying the toll because the government is bound to pay Rs 50,000 as ex-gratia to the next of the kin of the deceased under the “Apadbhandhu” scheme in both the states.
Post-mortem by a doctor of the civil assistant surgeon cadre is required to prove that a person died due to heat stroke.
Tuni, Machilipatnam and Gannavaram of Krishna district (AP) are still reeling under 46-47° Celsius for the third consecutive day. The temperature in several districts across Telangana remained unchanged except in Khammam, Ramagundam and Nalgonda which recorded 46.1° Celsius on Sunday.
The coal mine belt of Manuguru in Khammam district, Telangana, recorded 49 degrees Celsius with many open cast mines catching fire. Shift timings in these mines have been changed following requests from the employees. According to unofficial estimates, highest number of deaths due to heat stroke was reported from Prakasam (104) district of AP, followed by Guntur (58), Krishna (57) and Nellore (49).
In Telangana, Nalgonda (68), Warangal (65), Karimnagar (57) and Khammam (45) recorded the highest number of deaths.
Delhi sizzled on Sunday with temperature touching 46.2 degrees Celsius. In the northern plains, the highest temperature of 47 degrees Celsius was recorded in Allahabad.
Delhiites will have no respite from the blistering heat as the weathermen predicted heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in the national capital and surrounding areas for the next three days, though there may be a dust storm in some places.Maximum temperatures went up considerably even in the hill stations. Dehradun recorded around 39 degrees Celsius, while Nainital touched 31.
With the maximum temperature in Patna touching 44.3 degree Celsius, residents are bracing for yet another hot spell before the monsoon touches the State anytime around June 10.
Gaya recorded the highest temperature in Bihar. From 44.7 degree Celsius on Friday, followed by 45.3 on Saturday, mercury crossed 46 degree Celsius in the pilgrimage centre on Sunday. “Though various factors affect the advancement of southwest monsoon, the central Indian land heat is important for its advancement in Bihar and other parts of eastern India. The prevailing rate of heating is ideal for pulling the monsoon current towards the region once it hits the eastern coast,” said Patna Met director A K Sen.There was no let up from the severe heatwave which has been sweeping Uttar Pradesh for the past few days.