HYDERABAD:The intense heat wave conditions in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh worsened on Saturday with the official death toll in both states rising to 208 -- 128 lost their lives in Telangana while 80 deaths were reported from the neighbouring state.
The mercury continued to soar past even the weatherman’s predictions with Khammam in Telangana recording a mind-numbing maximum temperature of 48 degree Celsius.
“128 persons died in Telangana as per the information received till last evening,” said Revenue Secretary B R Meena.
“We have appealed to the general public to take all precautions. We request people to drink enough water and stay indoors particularly at noon,” he said.
In Andhra Pradesh, as many as 40 persons died due to sun stroke in Prakasam district alone, followed by 12 in Visakhapatnam and eight in Srikakulam district. In Telangana, Nalgonda accounted for 28 deaths, Karimnagar 22 and Khammam nine.
The toll figures in Andhra Pradesh pertain to the period between May 18 and May 23 while those in Telangana are from April 15 and May 23.
The India Meteorological Department has warned that the severe heat wave conditions will continue in both states at least for three more days.
Adilabad, Warangal, Hyderabad, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad Karimnagar are the worst-hit in Telangana.
“We expect the severe heatwave conditions to continue for another three days, mainly across Telangana and south coastal Andhra Pradesh. This is due to the north-westerly hot and dry winds,” Y K Reddy, director-in-charge of the Hyderabad centre of the IMD, told Express.
While the highest maximum temperature of 48 degrees Celsius was recorded in Khammam, the temperature hovered around 47 in Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Ramagundam and 46 at Hanamkonda. Hyderabad recorded 42.5 degree Celsius.
In Andhra Pradesh, Krishna district recorded 47 degree Celsius. The temperatures will be more or less the same in the next three-four days.