Heatwave claims 153 lives in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
23 May 2015
About 153 people have died of extreme heat across the eastern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh so far even as people continued to reel under intense heat wave conditions in other states, including West Bengal, Odisha and Maharashtra, officials said.
In West Bengal, a suspected heatstroke today took the toll to four since Friday after a cab driver died of intense heatwave.
In Maharashtra, Wardha district recorded a maximum temperature of 47.5 degrees Celsius while Nagpur continued to sizzle under 47 degrees for a second consecutive day today.
As many as 73 persons died in Telangana and 80 deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh following severe heatwave conditions in the two states, officials said.
In Andhra Pradesh, 40 persons died of heat wave in Prakasam district, followed by 12 in Visakhapatnam and eight in Srikakulam, between 15 and 18 May.
In Telangana, 28 persons died of heat wave in Nalgonda district, followed by 22 deaths in Karimnagar and nine in Khammam district between 15 and 22 May.
Severe heatwave conditions prevailed over some parts of Adilabad, Warangal, Hyderabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Nizamabad Karimnagar districts of Telangana.
The highest maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius was recorded at Khammam, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Ramagundam on Thursday, according to the officials of India Meteorological Department.
West Bengal continued to reel under intense heatwave as a cab driver died of a suspected heatstroke on Saturday taking the toll to four since Friday.
"The cab driver identified as Shatrughan Poddar (52) was found lying unconscious inside his taxi near Jadavpur on Saturday. Later, he was pronounced dead at the hospital," said a police officer.
Earlier on Friday, two people, including a Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) employee, Moinuddin Ali and an undertrial prisoner, Jitendra Tanti died as the mercury soared past 40 degrees Celsius in several districts of the state.
People in large parts of India experienced a searing hot day with heatwave-like conditions prevailing in many states and mercury settling above 40 degrees Celsius.
Several areas of Maharashtra reeled under severe hot weather with Wardha district recording a maximum temperature of 47.5 degrees Celsius. Nagpur continued to reel under 47 degrees for the second consecutive day today.
