As many as 178 people have lost their lives due to heat-related illnesses in Telangana this summer season, the state disaster management department said today.

The casualties climbed from 143 to 178 after fresh deaths were reported largely from Nalgonda district. The last count of 143 was reported on Friday, an official said.

"These deaths were confirmed by a three-member committee. Nalgonda district tops the chart with 53 deaths followed by Mahbubnagar with 33," an official in the disaster management's control room said.

According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) heatwave conditions prevailed in many parts of Khammam and Karimnagar districts of Telangana.

There was no major change in maximum temperatures over the state and that they were appreciably above normal at a few places in the state. The highest maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius was recorded at Ramagundam.

Rain occurred at isolated places over the state and Kondurg in Mahabubnagar district received three centimetres of rainfall, the IMD said in its daily report.

Heatwave conditions are "very likely" to continue in districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Khammam, Warangal, Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, Nalgonda and Mahaboobnagar of Telangana, for the next two days, the IMD said.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at isolated places in the state, it said.