Heat wave death toll reaches 2300 in South India

Intense heat wave in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Southern India, on Sunday as 45 more deaths were reported from the two Telugu states, taking the toll to over 2,300.

While 25 people died in Andhra Pradesh, 20 succumbed to sunstroke in Telangana.

The officials till Saturday night had confirmed 2,177 deaths in the two states. While Andhra Pradesh accounted for 1,636 deaths, 541 died in Telangana during last two weeks. Hyderabad Meteorological Centre has warned that the heat may continue for two to three days in both the states. The Met officials attributed the continuing high temperatures to the delay in arrival of monsoon.

The monsoon was expected to arrive in Kerala on May 30 but the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has now said that there could be delay of four to five days.

All 10 districts of Telangana and four districts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh are recording high temperatures.

Hanamkonda in Telangana was the hottest place on Sunday with maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius. It was 45 degrees in Nalgonda, Ramagundam and Khammam while Hyderabad recorded 41 degrees. Isolated rains over last two days have not brought down the temperatures, which remained above 40 degrees across Telangana.

Jangamaheshwarapuram in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh sizzled at 47 degrees Celsius. Other places in south coastal Andhra recorded maximum temperature between 41 and 44 degrees.