Heat wave claims 74 more lives in Telangana, Andhra

Hyderabad, May 22  Severe heat wave conditions claimed 74 more lives in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Friday, unofficial sources said.

The blazing heat killed 39 people in Telangana while 35 are reported dead in neighboring Andhra Pradesh.

Khammam, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Ramagundem sizzled at 47 degrees Celsius. Mahabubnagar and Adilabad recorded 45 degrees.

Hyderabad, which sizzled at 46 degrees on Thursday, experienced 44 degrees on Friday.

Hyderabad Meteorological Centre has warned that severe heat wave conditions may continue for two more days with some parts of the state recording maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius.

Nalgonda and Khammam districts in Telangana bore the brunt with nine deaths each. Eight people were killed in Warangal district, six in Karimnagar, three each in Mahabubnagar and Adilabad districts and one in Hyderabad.

A large number of people, who suffered sun stroke, were undergoing treatment in different hospitals in all 10 districts of Telangana.

In Andhra Pradesh, Prakasam district accounted for 11 deaths, Krishna district seven, Nellore six, Srikakulam four and Guntur and Kurnool three each. Two people were killed in Vijayanagaram and one in Anantapur district.

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas reviewed the situation with top officials. He directed them to create awareness among people on the precautions to be taken to protect themselves.

According to unofficial sources, the heat wave has claimed over 100 lives in the two states during last three days.

The officials in Telangana Thursday put the toll at 21 while the authorities in Andhra Pradesh have not come out with any figures.