87 killed in Andhra Pradesh due heatwave

Hyderabad: As many as 87 people have lost their lives due to severe heat wave across Andhra Pradesh. Among these, 27 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours in North coastal districts including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari, the Disaster Management officials said.

Citing the delay in monsoon as one of the reasons M. Narsimha Rao, assistant controller, meteorological department said, “Temperatures are rising above normal levels following a cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea. The cyclone is likely to weaken in the next couple of days that will result in strengthening of the monsoon.”

Tuni in East Godavari and Rentichintala recorded the highest maximum temperature of 45ºC which is nine degrees above normal. Severe heatwave conditions prevailed over Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam of Coastal AP and all the other districts, except Nellore. This is likely to continue for the next three days as the Met officials have predicted severe heat wave conditions in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Guntur, Krishna, Prakasam, among others.

Tempe-ratures, especially in the coastal AP were touching 43ºC. Educational institutions have been asked to remain shut for some more days due to the heat. Maximum temperatures appreciably rose at one or two places over Coastal AP.