Heat wave claims 35 lives in Telangana, govt issues alert

Heat wave sweeping parts of Telangana has so far claimed 35 lives, prompting the state government to issue an alert in all districts to take precautionary measures to minimise its impact.
The maximum temperature is likely to hover above 40 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours in many parts of the state, an official said today.
"We have issued heat wave alerts to all district collectors and officials concerned. People are advised not to venture out during afternoon when the temperature is at peak," Principal Secretary (Revenue) B R Meena told PTI.
"We have also asked the rural water department to be ready with sufficient water storage facilities. The toll so far reported is 35," he said.

In a release issued over a week ago, the state government had said as many as 66 lives were lost to heat wave in the state. However, Meena denied the figure.
A directive has been issued to all departments concerned saying construction labourers and other related workers are not engaged in work during the peak heat hours, he said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated places in the state tomorrow.
The maximum temperature in the state yesterday was recorded at Nalgonda and Ramagundam at 44 degrees Celsius.