Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States have turned into an inferno with no respite from the oppressive heatwave conditions for the hapless people on Friday. Another 50 people died due to the heatwave and sun strokes in Telangana on Friday while 35 deaths were reported from different places in Andhra Pradesh. With this the total number of deaths in the two States over last one month has risen to 310.
Roads and public places wore a totally deserted look as the people were forced to confine themselves to the safety of homes or other shelters. With hot winds blowing and making the heat unbearable, few dared to venture out during the day. In Hyderabad, normally busy junctions were silent and even roads around historic Charminar in the old city were completely deserted. In a novel demonstration of the intensity of heat a person turned eggs in to omelet by placing a pan directly in the sunlight at Charminar.
It was yet another day of suffering for the people over most of the two States as mercury continued to soar. Hyderabad city recorded a high of 44 degrees for the second consecutive day on Friday while the Meteorological Center in Hyderabad warned that severe heat wave conditions will continue for at least another 48 hours. Temperature may cross 47 degrees Celsuis at some places in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the next two days, warned Y K Reddy, director in charge, Met office, Hyderabad.
Ramagundam in Karimnagar was the hottest spot in Telangana with the temperature of more than 46 degrees on Friday. Mahbubnagar recorded 45 Degrees. Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh was equally bad with 46 degrees while Rentichintala recorded 44 degrees. There was no respite for the people during the nights at temperature continued to at a high of 35 degrees and the frequent unscheduled power cuts were adding to the woes of the people.
Thursday was the hottest day in many places as temperature threatened to break the past records. Adilabad reeled as the Mercury touched the high of 45 degrees Celsius coming close to the highest ever temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius recorded in 1995. Nizamabad was at a high of 46 degrees. Hyderabad had recorded the highest ever temperature of 45.5 in 1966 and weather office said that this could be broken over the next two days. Y K Reddy issued a heat wave warning for 48 hours and urged the people to take all the precautions and avoid exposure to the heat especially between 12 noon and 4 pm.
It is after nearly one and a half decades that the summer heat has turned so deadly and claimed so many live in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Weather officials have attributed this unusually intense heat wave to the hot winds blowing from North-North West towards Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. On Friday, Warangal reported the highest toll of 12 followed by 11 at Nalgonda, nine each in Khammam and Karimagar, five in Mehbubnagar, three in Adilabad and one in Hyderabad.
Situation was equally bad in Andhra Pradesh where 11 people died in Prakasham district followed by 7 in Krishna and six in Nellore. Deaths were also reported from Srikakulam, Kurnool and Anantapur. With reports of death pouring in from all the districts Telangana Government on Friday cautioned the old people, children and women from coming out into open. Andhra Pradesh Health Minister K Srinivas held a review meeting of the situation and directed the officials to create awareness among the masses on the precautions to be taken to prevent sun stroke.