Heat and dust prove lethal in T’gana and Raj

The searing heat in Telangana has proved deadly for locals. The heat wave claimed 12 lives in Telangana on Thursday, taking the toll to 30 in two days, unofficial sources said. The daily wage labourers, petty traders and people living on streets are the worst-hit.

Heat wave conditions have been sweeping the state the past two days with all ten districts recording day temperatures of at least 42 degrees Celsius. Nizamabad, Nalgonda and <g data-gr-id="42">Ramagundem</g> sizzled at 46 degrees, Adilabad recorded 45 degrees. The maximum temperature in Mahabubnagar was 44 degrees while Hyderabad, Karimnagar and other towns registered 43 <g data-gr-id="38">degrees</g> Celsius.

Three heat wave deaths were reported from Khammam and two from Warangal district on Thursday. A death each was also reported from Hyderabad, Adilabad, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Medak, Mahabubnagar and Ranga Reddy districts. Meanwhile, the Met centre at Hyderabad has issued heat wave warning in the state for the next three days.The heat wave conditions have hit the normal life in the state. The streets in most towns and cities were deserted as people preferred to remain indoors to escape the sweltering heat.

The cool drink shops, sugarcane and other fruit juice vendors and coconut sellers have been doing brisk business. Heat wave conditions also prevailed in Andhra Pradesh. The maximum temperature of 44 degrees celsius was recorded at Vijayawada and Nandigama. The heat wave had claimed over 1,000 lives in the undivided Andhra Pradesh during 2013 while more than 200 people died last year.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to a strong dust storm in Rajasthan has risen to 20 and 86 persons have been injured in related incidents, a senior official said on Thursday. Relief Secretary Rohit Kumar said 13 cattle were also killed and 12 houses damaged when the storm hit the state on Tuesday.

He added that divisional commissioners and district collectors have been asked to release assistance amount and compensation immediately. 5 deaths each were reported from Bharatpur and Dholpur, Kumar said, adding, deaths were also reported from other areas like Sawaimadhopur, Bikaner, Jaipur and others.