Rayalaseema simmers as mercury levels shoot up

Anantapur: Mercury levels are on rise in Rayalaseema and the temperature in most of the towns crossed 400 C for the past two days. The Pamidi automatic weather station recorded 44ºC and the one at Tarimela in Singanamala mandal 43ºC. It was 41.8ºC in Yel-lanur, Kanaganipalli, Putlur, Puttaparti and CK Palli mandal headquarters. The temperature in Kurnool has been at the 41ºC-mark for the past three days.

The mercury crossed the 40ºC mark in at least 30 mandals in Rayalaseema. Weather station officials have forecast that the temperature will only increase. At least three persons have died of sunstroke in the district so far. K. Adinarayana, 53, a handloom weaver from Santhinagar, Dharmavaram, died of sunstroke on Sunday.

According his family members, Adinarayana was returning from work where he complained of chest pain and was shifted to hospital. He died while he was on the way home after being treated at the hospital. He is survived by his wife Venkata Lakshmi, son Murali and daughter Sailaja. General physician Dr. Ravi Srinivas said that the people should care of themselves against sunstroke because of high temperatures.