New Delhi: The death toll in the sweltering heat sweeping many parts of the country climbed to 1826 on Thursday, with 414 lives being claimed by the scorching sun in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since Wednesday.
In Andhra Pradesh, the toll rose to 1334 on Thursday, 314 more than Wednesday. The death figure in Telangana on Thursday stood at 440 against 340 on Wednesday. So far, 43 deaths have been reported from Odisha, 7 seven from Gujarat and two from Delhi.
The Met department warned of continuance of the heatwave conditions for the next two days.
Heatwave conditions also prevailed in several other states like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Lower hills of Himachal Pradesh also reeled under scorching heat, with Una sizzling at 43.2-degrees celsius.
Telangana saw the death of 100 people since Wednesday. “As per information available till 7pm on Thursday, the toll has risen to 440,” said a senior official of the Telangana disaster management department in Hyderabad. On Wednesday, the figure stood at 340.
Since April 15, Nalgonda district has witnessed 126 deaths, followed by Karimnagar (95), Khammam (82) and Mahabubnagar (37).
The heat has also claimed 35 lives in Medak district, 22 in Adilabad, 17 in Nizamabad, 12 in Warangal and seven each in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.
According to India Meteorological Department, “severe heatwave to heatwave” conditions prevailed today over many parts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts, and would continue for the next two days.
“As per information available till 8.30pm, the toll (in Andhra Pradesh) has reached 1334,” officials of Andhra Pradesh disaster management department told PTI here.
Prakasam accounted for maximum number of 305 deaths followed by Guntur (197), East Godavari (158), Vizag (157), Vizianagaram (128), Nellore (102), Krishna district (66), Chittoor (56), Kadapa (34), Kurnool and Anantapur (28 each) West Godawari (18), Srikakulam (57).
Delhi saw the maximum temperature of 41.1-degrees celsius, which was a notch above the normal.
On Wednesday, the day temperature had settled at 41.8-degrees celsius while the minimum temperature was recorded at 24.8-degrees celsius.
Met department has predicted clear skies for Friday. Heatwave conditions also continued to sweep swathes of Haryana and Punjab with maximum temperatures on Thursday again hovering between 41 to 44-degrees celsius at most places, giving no respite to people.
Hisar in Haryana was the hottest at 43.8-degrees celsius, up two notches above normal while Bhiwani also sizzled at 42.6-degrees celsius.
Ambala recorded a maximum temperature of 41.5-degrees celsius, up one notch above normal.
Chandigarh braved yet another hot day as the maximum temperature settled at 41.6-degree celsius, up three notches above normal, the Met department report said here.
Complete coverage on heatwave engulfing India
In Punjab, Ludhiana recorded 41.8-degrees celsius, Amritsar 41.4-degrees celsius and Patiala 41.4-degrees celsius.
The plains of Uttar Pradesh also continued to reel under severe heat with day temperature appreciably above normal in Allahabad, Kanpur, Jhansi divisions, Varanasi, Moradabad, Agra divisions and normal in the remaining divisions across the state. Allahabad recorded the highest maximum temperature at 45.8-degree celsius, the Met office said.
PTI
