Severe heat wave claims many lives in Andhra Pradesh

Persistent severe heat wave conditions in Andhra Pradesh, for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, has claimed several lives across the state.

Officials, however, refused to give any figures on the toll, stating that reports in this regard are 'under verification', even as the local media quoted double-digit figures.

The Deccan Chronicle put the death toll at 93, Newstime claimed it to be 36, New Indian Express reported 38 deaths, The Hindu put the figure at 27 and the Times of India quoted 21 deaths.

These deaths have been reported from 15 out of 23 districts in the state -- Khammam, Nalgonda, Warangal, Hyderabad, Prakasam, Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Chittoor and Kurnool.

State Relief Commissioner D C Rosaiah told rediff.com, "We are not denying there are deaths due to the heat wave. But we are not able to confirm them. The problem is that deaths attributed to sunstroke by unofficial channels have to be confirmed through authentic sources."

Hyderabad Meteorological Centre Director C V V Bhadram said, "The current spell of heat wave started from May 16 with the Telangana region in interior Andhra Pradesh and spread over to the coastal districts the next day. The day temperatures due to the severe heat wave have been hovering between 43 and 47 degrees Celsius at different places in the state."

On Tuesday, Vijayawada airport recorded the season's highest temperature of 47.5 degrees Celsius. Machilipatnam came a close second with 46.9 degrees, followed by Kakinada with 46.6 degrees.

The Met director, however, rejected media reports about the mercury touching 50 degrees at Kovur town in West Godavari, 49.6 degrees in Kothagudem in Khammam district and 48 degrees at Rajahmundry in East Godavari district on Tuesday.

Rosaiah said, "We are passing through a very difficult period. People are, thus, advised to stay indoors to avoid the heat wave."