Mercury rises: 11 more people die as heat wave conditions prevail

No respite from heat; death toll rises in Telangana, AP

 Eleven more people died of sun stroke in Telangana and Rayalaseema of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday as temperature reached 45 degrees Celsius.

Most of the deaths occurred in Anantapur, Chittoor, Krishna, Srikakulam and Karimnagar. According to the IMD, similar heat wave conditions would prevail for three more days. Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Warangal of Telangana; Kurnool, Anantapur, Nellore and Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh are very likely to record maximum temperature between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius.

On Saturday, highest maximum temperature of 45 degree Celsius was recorded at Nizamabad, 44 in Adilabad and Medak, 43 in Bhadrachalam, Hanmakonda, Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy and Nalgonda, 42 in Khammam and Hakim pet and 41 in Hyderabad.

On the outskirts of Hyderabad, near Hayatnagar on Saturday, 3000 broiler chickens died of heat in a poultry farm..

Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh sizzled at 44 degree Celsius; Anantapur recorded 43 and Chittoor 41. Normal life in the Temple town of Tirupati was also affected due to severe heat wave conditions. Pilgrims had a tough time reaching Tirumala hills under scorching heat. Roads leading to Alipiri wore a deserted look.

Heat wave conditions also continued across Uttar Pradesh with mercury crossing 45 degrees in Allahabad.

According to the official sources here, Allahabad recorded a maximum temperature of 45.3 degree celsius on Friday, making it the hottest place in the state.

5 villages remain unaffected

Five villages of the Parbhani district have become role models in water harvesting and conservation to Marathwada, which is reeling under the worst drought of the century, DHNS reports from Mumbai.

The total population of Suppakhalsa, Dhebewadi, Limbewadi, Pandhargaon and Gunjegaon is around 6,000.   Several water harvesting structures have been created or renovated to create water harvesting capacity of more than 28 lakh cubic metres of water in these villages till date, thanks to an initiative by the Reliance Foundation.

The region has been hit by drought for the fourth time in a row after receiving less than 50% of its normal rainfall. Scarcity of water had resulted in low productivity and lesser income to farmers.