HYDERABAD: It’s getting hotter with each passing minute not only in Hyderabad, but also across the rest of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The mercury touched a mind-blasting 47 degree celsius in Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Khammam and Ramagundam on Friday - just marginally short of the all-time high of 47.3 degree celsius recorded in Ramagundam in 1984 and Nizamabad in 2005.
Mercifully, the maximum temperature didn’t break the record 45.5 degree celsius in Hyderabad, as predicted. It hovered around 43.6 degree celsius in the twin cities, but the hot winds made it almost impossible for people to stay outdoors for long.
The toll in both the states, meanwhile, rose to 43, from Thursday’s 19, with three more sunstroke deaths reported from Andhra Pradesh. As many as 21 people have lost their lives in Telangana and 22 in Andhra Pradesh due to the heat wave in the last few days.
“Temperature in Hyderabad was lower than expected. Obviously, we focus on the entire state rather than cities and temperatures at several places such as Nizamabad and Ramagundam rose to 47 degree celsius - a clear indication of the heat wave sweeping the State,” explained Y K Reddy, director-in-charge, Hyderabad Meteorological Centre. B R Meena, Commissioner, Disaster Management and Principal Secretary to the Telangana government, told Express that Friday’s toll figures in Telangana were yet to be received. The worst bit of news is that the heat wave conditions will persist till at least Sunday. “We expect severe heat wave conditions to prevail until Sunday across Telangana and AP. Temperature in Hyderabad could be as high as 45, while other parts of the state may be roasted at 47,” Y K Reddy predicted.