Heatwave toll rises to 1826

NEW DELHI: The death toll in the sweltering heat sweeping many parts of the country climbed to 1826 today, with 414 lives being claimed by the scorching sun in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since yesterday.

In Andhra Pradesh, the toll rose to 1334 today, 314 more than yesterday. The death figure in Telangana today stood at 440 against 340 yesterday. So far, 43 deaths have been reported from Odisha, 7 seven from Gujarat and two from Delhi.

The Met department warned of continuance of the heat wave conditions for the next two days.

Heat wave conditions also prevailed in several other states like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Lower hills of Himachal Pradesh also reeled under scorching heat, with Una sizzling at 43.2 degree celsius.

Telangana saw the death of 100 people since yesterday. "As per information available till 7 pm today, the toll has risen to 440," said a senior official of the Telangana disaster management department in Hyderabad. Yesterday, the figure stood at 340.

Since April 15, Nalgonda district has witnessed 126 deaths, followed by Karimnagar (95), Khammam (82) and Mahabubnagar (37).

The heat has also claimed 35 lives in Medak district, 22 in Adilabad, 17 in Nizamabad, 12 in Warangal and seven each in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.

According to Indian Meteorological Department, `severe heatwave to heatwave' conditions prevailed today over many parts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts, and would continue for the next two days.