Telangana heatwave kills nine as temperatures soar
HYDERABAD: Nine people died of suspected heatstroke across Telangana on Wednesday as severe heatwave conditions gripped north and central districts of the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert across Telangana and warned that the extreme temperatures would continue for the next two days.
North Telangana districts record extreme temperatures
The highest temperature of 46.5 degrees Celsius was recorded at Dilawarpur in Nirmal district. Temperatures crossed 45 degrees Celsius in 18 districts, with several areas recording heat levels 5-6 degrees above normal.
Officials said the worst-hit regions included the undivided Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda districts. Doctors advised elderly people, children, pregnant women and those with health conditions to avoid stepping outdoors during peak daytime hours.
Six deaths reported in undivided Karimnagar district
Among the victims were woman farmer Nerragaddam Lachavva, 55, of Gollapalli village in Konaraopet mandal of Rajanna Sircilla district, and Enge Raj Reddy, 60, of Arepalli in Vemulawada mandal.
Others who died due to suspected heatstroke included Kandukuri Rajamma, 83, of Kolanoor in Odela mandal of Peddapalli district; farmer Sama Lachireddy, 60, of Narsingapur in Dharmaram mandal; Kanukuntla Kanakaiah, 75, of Kothapalli in Peddapalli mandal; and differently-abled person Gajarla Satish, 45, from the 21st ward of Huzurabad.
In Mahabubabad district, Nerella Somaiah, 72, from Arpanapalli village in Kesamudram mandal died due to heatstroke. Sanitation worker Joda Sambaiah from Premnagar in Mulugu municipality and Dasari Hanmanthu, 50, from Maddelabeed village in Damaragidda mandal of Narayanpet district also died.
Red alert issued across Telangana
The IMD said heatwave conditions intensified from early morning on Wednesday, leaving people struggling across Telangana. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors during afternoon hours and stay hydrated.
The following temperatures were recorded across the state on Wednesday:
- Dilawarpur, Nirmal district – 46.5°C
- Odela, Peddapalli district – 46.4°C
- Vedurugattu, Karimnagar district – 46.4°C
- Pendyala, Hanamkonda district – 46.4°C
- Vadlakonda, Jangaon district – 46.3°C
- Dahegaon, Komaram Bheem district – 46.3°C
- Raikal, Jagtial district – 46.3°C
- Devulawada, Mancherial district – 46.3°C
- Balkonda, Nizamabad district – 46.3°C
- Gouraram, Khammam district – 46.3°C
- Mellacheruvu, Suryapet district – 46.2°C
- Bayyaram, Bhadradri Kothagudem district – 46.2°C
- Torrur, Mahabubabad district – 46.2°C
- Eturnagaram – 46.1°C
- Marthannapet, Rajanna Sircilla district – 46.1°C
- Aitipamula, Nalgonda district – 46.0°C
- Medapalli, Warangal district – 46.0°C
- Megullapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally district – 45.8°C
- Pochampally, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district – 44.8°C
- Bibipet, Kamareddy district – 44.8°C
The IMD data also showed some of the highest temperatures recorded in the state over the decades, including 48.6 degrees Celsius in Bhadradri Kothagudem district in 1973 and 47.8 degrees Celsius in Hanamkonda on May 6, 2023.
