Parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States are reeling under heat wave conditions as temperature shot up to a record 46.1 degrees Celsius in Nizamabad district. While four people – one each in Karimnagar, Medak, Adilabad and Warangal — died due to sun stroke, four persons died in Srikakulam district of AP on Wednesday.
Along with scorching heat, hot winds added to the woes of people. Many towns in Telangana wore a deserted look in the afternoon as people preferred to remain indoors. The sharp increase in temperatures is being seen as the parting kick of summer. While most of the summer season passed off without any major problem with temperatures mostly remaining below 40 degrees or even below normal with frequent unseasonal rains lashing both the States, it has suddenly shot up over the last few days with the monsoon hardly a fortnight away.
Meteorological Centre at Hyderabad said the highest temperature of 46.1 degrees was recorded at Nizamabad, followed by 45.4 at Ramagundam in Karimnagar, 44 degrees in Adilabad and Khammam, 43 degrees in Nalgonda, 42 degrees in Medak and 41 dgrees in Mahbubnagar and Ranga Reddy — all in north Telangana. Hyderabad turned into a cauldron with sizzling at 45 degrees Celsius and the people were forced to stay indoors to avoid sun stroke. Even more difficult days lie ahead as the temperatures were likely to soar further in the days to come, the Met. centre predicted. Mercury in Hyderabad was likely to touch 43 degrees over the next 48 hours and it will hover above 45 degrees in Nizamabad over the next three days. It was expected to be between 42 and 43 degrees in Vijayawada, another hot spot in Andhra Pradesh. (NSS)