Heat wave claims 30 more lives in Telanga, Andhra

Hyderabad, May 24: Telanga and Andhra Pradesh continue to reel under heat wave, which claimed 30 more lives on Sunday. Intense heat wave conditions prevailed in almost entire Telanga and parts of neighboring Andhra Pradesh. While 25 people died in Telanga, five died in Andhra. According to officials, the heat wave has already claimed 223 lives in the two states. This does not include the deaths reported on Sunday. Disaster magement officials said they were still awaiting confirmation from district-level officials. Telanga Revenue Secretary B.R. Mee said as per the reports received till Friday, 128 people died in the state. This was the first official statement on the toll. Disaster magement department officials in Andhra Pradesh said the heat wave claimed 85 lives in the state. The highest maximum temperature of 46 degree Celsius was recorded at Khammam, lgonda and Ramagundam in Telanga. (IANS)