No let-up in heat wave; toll rises to 1,826

New Delhi, May 28

The death toll in the sweltering heat sweeping many parts of the country climbed to 1,826 today, with 414 lives being claimed by the scorching sun in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since yesterday.

In Andhra Pradesh, the toll rose to 1,334 today, 314 more than yesterday. The death figure in Telangana today stood at 440 against 340 yesterday. 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 heat wave conditions for the next two days.

Heat wave 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 degree celsius.

Telangana saw the death of 100 people since yesterday.

“As per information available till 7 pm today, the toll has risen to 440,” said a senior official of the Telangana disaster management department in Hyderabad. Yesterday, 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 Indian 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.

Delhi saw the maximum temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius, which was a notch above the normal.

Yesterday, 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 tomorrow.

Heat wave conditions also continued to sweep swathes of Haryana and Punjab with maximum temperatures today again hovering between 41-44 degrees Celsius at most places, giving no respite to people.

Hisar in Haryana was the hottest at 43.8 degree C, up two notches above normal while Bhiwani also sizzled at 42.6 degrees Celsius.

Ambala recorded a maximum temperature of 41.5 degree C, 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.

In Punjab, Ludhiana recorded 41.8 degree 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