With only a fortnight left before the summer season formally comes to an end, an intense heat wave has gripped entire Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with mercury shooting up to more than 46 degrees Celsius at many places.
According to the weather bulletin of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Kottagudem and Khammam were the hottest place in Telangana on Wednesday as a maximum temperature of 46.4 degree Celsius was recorded in both the places.
Mercury touched a high of 44 degrees in Nalgonda, Adilabadand Mancherial 43 degrees Clesius in Warangal and Karimnagar.
For the State capital Hyderabad also it was one of the hottest days as the mercury crossed 42 degrees for the second consecutive day. Most of the city roads wore a deserted look as the people stayed indoors to avoid exposure to the heat and sun stroke.
In Andhra Pradesh, where the hot winds kept the people confined to their homes Vijayawada was among the hottest place with maximum temperature of 46 degrees. Guntur and Eluru also recorded the equally high temperature. The city roads wore a deserted places as people remained indoors to avoid exposure to the heat wave. Rajahmundry and Ongole recorded 45 degrees, Kadapa 44 and Nellore and Tirupati recorded 43 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
Weather officials said that the temperatures were four to five degrees Celsius above normal. “A heat wave like situation is prevailing in both the States,” said YK Reddy, director, IMD Hyderabad.
He however hoped that the situation may ease and heat wave will abate from Thursday onwards.