Telangana, Andhra sizzle in intense heat wave

There is no respite from the intense heat wave gripping Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The Met Office here has issued heat wave warning for Telangana and Rayalaseema region of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh for two more days.

According to Hyderabad Meteorological Centre, the maximum temperature at most places across the two states is likely to be between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius.

Nizamabad in Telangana sizzled with maximum temperature of 44 degrees on Friday.

Adilabad, Hanamkonda, Mahabubnagar, Medak and Ramagundem recorded 43 degrees Celsis. It was 42 degrees in Bhadrachalam, Nalgonda and Khammam.

With the maximum temperature of 41, it was slightly better in Hyderabad, which on Thursday recorded 43 degrees Celsius -- the highest for the month of April in 43 years.

The temperature in all 10 districts of Telangana was three to five degrees above what is normal for this time of the year.

The harsh weather conditions forced the state government to declare early summer recess for schools. According to the schedule announced earlier, the summer vacation was to begin from April 23.

The school education department has now announced that all schools will remain shut from April 16 to June 12, by when the monsoon is usually expected in the region.

The labour department has issued orders banning labourers from working at construction sites between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the hottest period of the day.

Similar conditions prevailed in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. All four districts of the region are reeling under intense heatwave conditions.

Anantapur was the hottest place with maximum temperature of 44 degrees. It was 43 in Kurnool and Nandyal, and 42 in the temple town of Tirupati.

Temperature at a few places in coastal Andhra Pradesh hovered between 39 and 41 degrees.

The weather office has forecast light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers at isolated places in coastal Andhra over the next two days.

In almost all towns of both Telangana and Rayalaseema, the streets wore a deserted look after 11 a.m. as searing heat swept towns and the countryside and people preferred to remain indoors to escape the blazing sun.

Authorities in both the states are trying to create awareness among people about dos and dont's to escape the heat wave.

The heat wave has claimed over 100 lives so far in the two states.