HYDERABAD: If Thursday was hot, get prepared for hotter days ahead, as the Met Department has predicted record breaking high temperatures. “We were expecting 430 Celsius on Thursday, but the temperature was 44.40 Celsius and we are expecting higher temperatures,” said YK Reddy, director-in-charge, Indian Meteorological Department (Hyderabad) in an extra-ordinary press conference to show the gravity of the situation. A heat wave alert has been issued for the next three days as temperatures remained above normal across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, affecting normal life across the two states. Reports of deaths due to sunstroke are trickling in.
The highest ever temperature in Hyderabad 45.50 Celsius recorded on June 2, 1966 may be breached, said senior officials at the IMD.
“Due to a heat low over Gujarat and Rajasthan, hot and dry winds are blowing towards Telangana and coastal AP. This is leading to an unexpected rise in temperature. Maximum temperature significantly increased across the state and we think they could rise up to 47 Degrees Celsius in Hyderabad and could rise up to even 49 Degrees Celsius in some parts of Telangana and in South Andhra Pradesh,” observed YK Reddy.
Met officials, on Wednesday, had issued a heat wave warning for the next three days, but conceded that even they were stumped by the alarming rise in temperatures on Thursday.
“We have seen an unexpected rise in the temperature today. We feel there could be hazardous conditions in the state in the next two days. The existing record of the highest ever temperature in Hyderabad could be broken over the next two days. In certain places like Nizamabad and Ramagundam, temperatures could also rise up to 49 Degrees Celsius,” warned YK Reddy.
Advising all citizens to take precautions to safeguard their health in light of the extremely high temperatures, Met officials along with department of disaster management for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh tried to caution the people about the impact such weather can have on one’s health.
“Apart from Hyderabad, we are working with various district officials to ensure there is no danger to people’s lives.
All necessary precautions are being taken by the government and there are IV fluids and other medical arrangements to treat a sun-stroke victims at all district hospitals.
We are working towards creating more awareness among the people as well,” explained Sada Bhargavi, an official from the Telangana Disaster Management Department.
