It is now official. The number of deaths that occurred due to sunstroke in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday was 190.
With this, the total number of those who died because of the intense heat wave conditions rose to 274 since April 1. Unofficial estimates are much higher.
According to Commissioner for Disaster Management T Radha, the official figure was 274, including 190 deaths during the last 24 hours. Between April 1 and May 24, about 84 persons died due to severe heat.
On Saturday too, the Coastal Andhra and Telangana regions reeled under the impact of severe hot weather for the fourth consecutive day.
Temperatures remained two or three degrees above normal at several places, though slightly less compared to Friday and the day before.
Many of the victims were wage-earners under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme who were toiling under the hot sun.
The Disaster Management Commissioner told Express that the number of deaths had been calculated basing on the reports received from the District Collectors, but the figures may be more as many casualties are not reported to the district administration as government is insisting on post-mortem reports. Confirmation of a sunstroke death is necessary to extend ex-gratia to the affected family.
The district-wise sunstroke deaths reported so far are: Adilabad (43), Karimnagar (43), Prakasam (40), Khammam (26), Warangal (20), East Godavari (18), Medak (12), West Godavari (16), Nizamabad (7), Ananthapur (7), Srikakulam (7), Mahabubnagar (6), Chittoor (6), Guntur (6), YSR Kadapa (4), Kurnool(5), Vizianagaram (4), Nalgonda (3) and Visakhapatnam (1).
According to Indian Meteorological Department report, severe heat wave conditions prevailed over coastal Andhra Pradesh. The trough from Southeast Uttar Pradesh to North Coastal Andhra Pradesh across Chhattisgarh and interior Odisha with cyclonic circulation over southeast UP and neighbourhood persists. The highest maximum temperature of 47.3 degree Celsius was recorded at Rentachintala.
Heat warning: Severe heat wave to heat wave conditions would prevail in the districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari of Coastal AP. Heat wave conditions would prevail in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Khammam, Mahabubnagar and Medak of Telangana during the next two days.
A temperature of 47 degrees Celsius was reported in Bapatla, Machilipatnam, Rentachintala and Vijayawada while Kakinada, Hanamakonda and Ramagundam recorded 46 degrees Celsius. 45 degree Celsius was repotrted in Ongole and Nalgonda.