Hyderabad:
The severe heat wave conditions in Andhra Pradesh have so claimed 84 lives from April 1, officials said.
The state remained in the grip of heat wave Friday, with many towns recording maximum day temperature of over 43 degree Celsius.
Munuguru in coal mines area of Khammam district was the hottest place Friday with the mercury shooting up to 50 degrees, the highest this season. Rentachintala in Guntur district recorded 48 degrees.
Bapatla and Ramagundam recorded 47 degrees Celsius while for the third consecutive day, Hyderabad sizzled at nearly 44 degrees.
Officials said 26 people died Friday alone but the unofficial sources have put the day's toll at 100. Over 20 deaths were reported Thursday.
According to Commissioner for Disaster Management T. Radha, the heat wave claimed 84 lives since April 1. Karimnagar district bore the brunt, accounting for for 43 deaths. Twelve people died in Medak, 11 in West Godavari, six in Chittoor, four in Vizianagaram, three each in Nalgonda and Nizamabad and one each in East Godavari and Visakhapatnam district.
The death toll may be higher as reports were yet to reach the state capital from many districts. The commissioner directed the collectors to submit detailed reports about the loss of lives.
Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, who reviewed the situation with officials, said under Apathbandhu scheme, Below Poverty Line (BPL) families of those who died due to sunstroke were eligible for assistance of Rs.50,000.
In a tragic incident, a mother and her two-year-old child died of sunstroke on a road at Hayatnagar in Ranga Reddy district. The woman, who was being taken to hospital by her husband, died on the way. Her daughter also succumbed in her lap.
The labourer couple had migrated from Mahabubnagar district. As the man was seen crying on the road, the local people donated money for last rites of his wife and daughter.
According to India Meteorological Department, severe heat wave to heat wave conditions prevailed over parts of the coastal Andhra Pradesh while heat wave conditions prevailed over most parts of Telangana.
It has warned that the head conditions would continue for next two days. The met office has attributed the heat wave to hot winds blowing from Rajasthan.