Heatwave in A.P.: Piduguralla sizzles at 47.6°C; temperatures go past 45°C in 11 districts

Andhra Pradesh continues to reel under heatwave conditions as the day temperatures went past 45°C in 11 districts on Wednesday, with Piduguralla of Palnadu district recording 47.6°C, the highest of this summer. According to Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), seventeen mandals experienced severe heatwaves and 124 mandals experienced heatwave conditions on Wednesday. Temperatures above 43°C were recorded in 204 mandals. Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) cautioned the public that the heatwave conditions were likely to continue May 24. In a release on Wednesday, the IMD issued orange alerts for the districts of NTR, Krishna, Palnadu, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, SPSR Nellore, Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Alluri Sitharama Raju and Kakinada. Temperatures may continue to remain between 45°C and 47°C in these districts. On Wednesday, Krishna, Eluru, Bapatla, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalli, East and West Godavari districts experienced heatwave conditions, while the intensity of heat was high in Palnadu and Krishna districts. Above 45°C was recorded at Kankipadu of Krishna district and Nandanamarella in Markapuram district (46.1°C), Tanuku in West Godavari district (46°C), Kolluru in Bapatla district and Torragudipadu in NTR district (45.9°C), Allipalli in Eluru district (45.7°C), Kondapi in Prakasam district (45.6°C), Chityala in East Godavari district (45.5°C), Gudur in Nellore district (45.4°C) and Kunavaram in Polavaram district (45°C). Even at 4 p.m., places in and around Vijayawada hovered in the range between 43°C and 45°C, while Amaravati recorded 45.2°C., according to realtime information available on the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. On Thursday, 74 mandals in the State are likely to experience severe heatwaves, while 232 mandals are likely to experience heatwaves. In Rayalaseema, however, the maximum temperature will remain around 40°C to 43°C during the next five days. In view of the extreme heat, APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain has urged the public to postpone travel plans and avoid venturing out between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Health Minister Satya Kumart Yadav, in a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday, instructed the health staff to provide special care for people suffering from chronic illnesses, pregnant women, senior citizens and children. All government hospitals, from Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to teaching hospitals, should be prepared to handle heatstroke victims, the Minister said. Health Secretary Saurabh Gaur, Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G. Veerapandian, Director of Secondary Health Chakradhar Babu, Director of Medical Education G. Raghunandan, and Director of Public Health K. Padmavathi took part in the meeting. Officials informed the Minister that 325 suspected heatstroke cases were recorded from March 1 to 19 in the State. Of these, 96 cases were recorded between May 1 and 19 alone. According to an official release, the highest number of cases were reported in Visakhapatnam district (24), followed by Kakinada (17), Vizianagaram (13), YSR Kadapa (11), and five each in Chittoor and Eluru districts. No deaths have been reported. The officials said 1.44 crore ORS packets have been stocked in all government health institutions, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres, Urban Primary Health Centres. Additional ORS packets have been made available at District, Area and Teaching Hospitals. Officials said plans are in place to use 108 ambulances during emergencies. The department is alerting the District Collectors about heat intensity through Advance Warning Advisory for Resilient Ecosystem (AWARE).