Though the monsoon has officially entered Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh two days ago, almost a week behind the schedule, most parts of the State as well as Telangana were still reeling under the scorching summer heat. In fact the heat wave conditions in part of coastal Andhra have claimed a large number of lives.
Meteorological department says that it will take at least three days more for the monsoon to reach Telangana and ten days to spread over entire State.
Warning of the weather officials and experts that this year monsoon rainfall will be less than normal was already showing its impact as the State was yet to record any major rainfall.
Even Rayalaseema, where the monsoon entered over Nandyal on Sunday, has experienced some occasional showers. Present high temperatures were likely to continue another three four days, a weather office said.
“Present conditions were likely to continue till a low pressure or depression was formed over Bay of Bengal,” he added.
M Narasimha Rao, assistant controller, Hyderabad Meteorological Center said that the conditions were favourable for the monsoon to advance and was likely to reach Telangana in the next 72 hours.
Many parts of Telangana were still experiencing intense summer heat and a heat wave warning was issued in Warangal district of the region. Situation in Adilabad was also equally grim.
Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh were already in the grip of heat wave conditions. Officials have confirmed the death of 169 people in Andhra Pradesh over the last one week. Vizianagaram has recorded the highest toll of 45.
The State Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh to the families of sunstroke victims. Even while there was no respite from the heat in Hyderabad, the woes were aggravated by the power shortage. The city was experiencing power cuts of three hours every day making the situation even worse.
On the whole the rainfall recorded in southern Indian so far since the onset of monsoon was 93 per cent, which is below normal. Much to the worry of officials and the farmers the water level in the reservoirs both in Telangana and Andhra was depleting fast and if the rains are delayed any further, it may badly hit and delay the farming activities.