Normal life was affected in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh again today due to high temperatures. As many as 225 people have lost their lives so far - 147 in Telangana and 78 in AP - with people living on the streets being the worst-affected.
Heat wave conditions have been sweeping Telangana for the past four days with all ten districts recording day temperatures of at least 42C. The India Meteorological Department said in its daily weather report for Telangana today that the weather has been dry over the state. Severe heat wave to heat wave conditions prevailed over many parts in the districts of Adilabad, Warangal, Hyderabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Karimnagar.
Hyderabad recorded 43.6 degrees Celsius on Friday, and the maximum temperature recorded on Thursday crossed even 45 degrees in some parts (the official city-wide temperature was 44.3C on Thursday). The temperatures at Nizamabad, Nalgonda and Ramagundam soared to 47 degrees Celsius on Friday. The temperatures at other places have been no less daunting - Adilabad 45, Hanumakonda 45, Hyderabad 44, Khammam 47, Mahabubnagar 45, Medak 43, Nalgonda 47, Nizamabad 47 and Ramagundam 47 degrees Celsius. And the Met office has issued a heat wave warning for the state for the next three days, too.
The streets in most towns and cities looked deserted as people preferred to remain indoors to escape the sweltering heat. Cool drink shops, sugarcane and other fruit juice vendors, and coconut water sellers have been doing brisk business. (NSS)