Heat wave claims 41 more lives in AP; nationwide toll 2,248

Torrid weather conditions continued to prevail in several parts of the country on Sunday, claiming 41 more lives in worst-hit Andhra Pradesh since Saturday as the nationwide death toll mounted to 2,248.

According to Andhra Pradesh's disaster management department, 41 more deaths have been reported from different parts of the state in the past 24 hours, taking the toll in the ongoing spell of heat wave to 1,677. The toll in the state stood at 1,636 on Saturday.

Sunday's figures from neighbouring Telangana were not available so far. About 541 people had died in the state till Saturday.

Nagpur continued to swelter at 47.1 degrees, while Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded a scorching 46.4 degrees.

Toll due to sun-stroke in Odisha remained at 21 though the Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office received reports of 115 deaths allegedly due to heat. Reports of the deaths reaching the SRC office are under investigation, an official release said. Seven deaths have so far been reported from Gujarat and two from Delhi.

Weather conditions have, however, improved in Odisha with a drop in the mercury level. Delhiites also had some respite from the searing heat as mercury settled at normal levels with the city recording a maximum temperature of 40.6 degrees, which is normal for this season. In UP, temperatures were above normal in Allahabad, Lucknow, Bareilly, Jhansi and Agra.Rajasthan continued to reel under intense heat conditions.