Heatwave Claims 16 Lives In Telangana

Hyderabad: Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy on Saturday said that 16 people died due to heatwave conditions prevailing in the state this summer. Reddy, who held a meeting with officials about the situation resulting from the heat wave, said that 16 deaths occurred in seven districts of the state.

Citing reports received from District Collectors, Jayashankar said four people died in Bhupalpally district, followed by three deaths in Warangal Urban, Karimnagar and Nizamabad, and one each in Jogulamba Gadwal, Ranga Reddy and Suryapet.

According to the official statement, the government said it will give an additional gift of Rs 4 lakh per person to the relatives of the deceased.

The revenue minister has instructed officials to identify villages recording very high temperatures and send heat-related alerts to these villages through media, social media and other means.

He said that drinking water, ayran and ORS packages should be available at bus stops, markets, main roads and places where workers work intensively. He stated that precautions should be taken to prevent loss of life due to heat.

The Minister called on senior citizens, pregnant women, children and unhealthy people not to leave their homes between 11.00 and 16.00.

He instructed the District Collectors to specifically monitor the heat wave conditions and to be on the ground as part of heat protection measures for government employees from mandal to village level.

He said the administration should regulate drinking water for human life as well as animals and birds in the villages.

Citing reports from the Met department, Reddy said Karimnagar, Peddpally, Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts will experience severe heat conditions till May 26. He urged the District Collectors to take measures to provide relief to the people.