Telangana heat wave toll rises to 249

The death toll due to heat wave in Telangana rose to 249 with 15 more deaths being reported since Thursday even as there was marked fall in temperatures due to heavy rains overnight, officials said.

The heat wave toll has gone up following receipt of the reports from various places during last 24 hours. An official in disaster management department said the reports could be about the deaths which occurred a few days ago.

The deaths were confirmed by three-member panels of officials constituted at the mandal level after an inquiry about the cause.

Meanwhile, heavy rains which lashed Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday considerably brought down the day temperature, providing relief to people reeling under heat wave conditions for last few weeks.

The maximum temperatures in almost all places in 10 districts fell below 35 degree Celsius. The highest temperature of 39.3 degrees was recorded in Hanamkonda. Hyderabad was pleasant at 32.2, the lowest in the state.

According to Hyderabad Meteorological Centre, the highest temperature was four to seven degrees below average for the season.

Hyderabad received eight cm rainfall, the highest in the state. Hailstorm also occurred at the met office at Begumpet here around 4 a.m. on Friday.

Ranga Reddy, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts also received heavy rains. Many places recorded one to six cm rainfall.

According to the met office, the upper air trough runs from Vidarbha to extreme south peninsula across Telangana with an embedded cyclonic circulation over Telangana.

It has forecast light to moderate rain/thundershowers at many places in the state over the next two days (Saturday and Sunday). Thunderstorm accompanied with squall/hail is very likely at few places.

--IANS

ms/vd