Heatwave in Telangana, India claims five lives and sets record temperatures

Telangana endured a deadly heatwave on Thursday, recording temperatures surpassing 45 °C (113 °F) in six districts, marking the highest temperatures for April in some areas over the past decade and leading to five fatalities. The State Disaster Management Department has issued health warnings for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children due to the severe heat.

Temperatures reached a high of 45.2 °C (113.4 °F) in Madugulapally Mandal of Nalgonda and Hajipur Mandal of Manchiryala, the highest recorded in Nalgonda for April in the past ten years.

Excluding Nalgonda and Adilabad districts, this is the first time that the temperature in the rest of the districts has touched 45 °C (113 °F) in the month of April. Additionally, five districts recorded temperatures of 44.9 °C (112.8 °F), and four districts recorded 44.8 °C (112.6 °F).

Advisories have been circulated throughout the affected areas, cautioning residents to take measures to prevent sunburn and heatstroke.

Alongside high temperatures, hailstorms were reported in localities such as Mathampally, Palakedu, Nutankal, Munagala in Nalgonda, and various districts including Bhadradri, Warangal, and Siddipet.

In response to the continuing high temperatures, the Meteorological Department issued an ‘Orange’ alert for the state, cautioning of potential hail and projecting that temperatures could range between 41 °C (105.8 °F) and 44 °C (111.2 °F) on April 19 and 20. These conditions continue to pose significant risks, especially to those without access to effective cooling resources.

The IMD also said that several isolated areas of Gangetic West Bengal are likely to witness severe heatwave conditions from Friday, April 19 to April 23. As a result, the West Bengal government has announced early summer break.

Heatwave warnings are also in place in Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

References:

¹ Telangana Heat Wave: Five Deaths Recorded; 6 Districts Sweltering With 45 Degrees Celsius – ETV Bharat – April 19, 2024

Featured image: Actual temperatures (ICON model) at 08:00 UTC on April 18, 2024. Credit: Zoom Earth, The Watchers