100 More Dead in Telangana, Heat Wave to Last Two More Days

Hyderabad: A heat wave alert for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where over 1,700 people have died in the last week, will last for at least two more days, said officials. 100 people have been killed in Telangana in the last 24 hours.

"The heat wave warning has been extended for two more days," YK Reddy, who heads the Met department in Hyderabad, said to NDTV.

He added that the heat wave in Telangana, which entered its eighth day today, is unprecedented in recent history, and double the usual duration.

Most of those killed are the elderly or labourers suffering sunstroke or dehydration.

A few thunderstorms today brought some respite to Northern Andhra Pradesh and the region of Rayalaseema. The south coastal belt of the state remains sweltering.

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Telangana's Panchayat Raj minister KT Rama Rao told NDTV that while officials have been ordered to ensure there is adequate drinking water provided at public places, there are gaps in understanding what can be done to protect people from the scorching sun, other than asking them to remain indoors, and ensuring hospitals are well-equipped with enough staff.

Raju says his friend travelled with him from Nalgonda to sell fruit on a major highway leading to Hyderabad. "He fell ill because of the heat and died. Many people stopped coming after that, but I have no choice,'' he said.

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Santosh is a salesperson whose day is spent on the road. His precautions include drinking litres of water and buttermilk. "As far as possible, I rest every once in a while in the shade to recover my energy. Otherwise, sunstroke can strike quickly," he said.