Heat wave claims 150 lives in Telugu States
Some 150 people have died in the past few days owing to sun stroke in the Telugu Srtates of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where temperatures between 40 and 45 degress Centigrade, 5 degrees above normal, are prevailing. Normal life in the 10 districts of Telangana and 13 in AP has come to a near standstill owing to the heat wave conditions. Hot winds have made the lives of people a veritable hell. Both the Telugu States are also facing acute shortage of water. The Telangana government has pressed in water tankers to supply water to 1650 places in Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts. Rayalaseema districts have borne the brunt of heat, and Anantpur continued to sizzle at 44 degrees Centigrade. AP chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu held a video conference with the district collectors on Friday and directed them to give top priority to provide drinking water to the people. He directed them to release additional funds for providing drinking water. The weather office in Visakhapatnam has however a good word for the people, predicting scattered rain in Andhra and Telangana on account of cumulonimbus clouds arising out of hot weather and bringing down temperature.
