According to sources the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said Andhra Pradesh continued to be in the grip of a heat wave on Saturday with few places sizzling at over 45 degrees Celsius. Reportedly Jangamaheswarapuram was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 44.5 degree Celsius. Furthermore most of the places in Rayalaseema region witnessed severe heat wave conditions with maximum temperatures ranging between 43 and 44 degrees.
Reportedly parts of coastal Andhra were relatively cool witnessing maximum temperatures between 35 and 37 degrees. Reports added the heat wave conditions in Andhra Pradesh have so far claimed 20 lives and there was no official confirmation of this figure. Further the state health Department stated that 400 people were treated so far for heat stroke in various government run hospitals.
Moreover Andhra's Principal Secretary, health, Poonam Malakondaiah, directed the personnel in primary health centers and hospitals to take all necessary steps to provide immediate relief to those suffering sunstroke. Perhaps she asked the officials to keep ORS packets and medicines ready in all primary health centers and hospitals and stating that a thunderstorm with gusty winds of 30 to 40 km per hour was very likely to occur at isolated places in coastal Andhra.
