"Sixteen people died in the district which has been reeling under severe heat wave for last two days," the East Godavari district collector Neetu Prasad said today.
The deaths were reported from Samarlkota, Prathipadu, Thondagi, Pithapuram (rural), Ambajipeta, Addateetala, Atreyapuram, Antravedi, Kadiam and other divisions of the district.
"We have declared holiday for schools, both aided and private, in view of prevailing heat wave conditions in the district," she said, adding that the situation was being closely monitored by the authorities.