Andhra, Telangana hit most as over 550 die in heat wave across India, Delhi sizzles at 45.5 degrees

New Delhi: Sweltering heat wave conditions continued in various parts of the country, causing deaths of over 550 people, mostly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, so far in the season.

National capital Delhi saw the hottest day, recording 45.5 degree celsius. Temperature in several other places hovered around the same mark while industrial town of Angul in Odisha recorded a maximum temperature of 47.

The Palam observatory in Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 46.4 degrees.

There may be some respite from the sweltering heat on Tuesday with the weatherman predicting dust storm and thunder storm.

In Telangana, the heat wave has claimed 215 lives since May 15, said Special Commissioner for Disaster Management, Sada Bhargavi.

In Andhra Pradesh, the number stood at 302 on Monday evening, said Tulsi Rani, Special Commissioner for Disaster Management, adding that data from different districts was still being compiled.

Temperatures have been hovering around 45 degree Celsius in both the states for the last few days.

A bulletin from the Met department said Ramagundam, Nalgonda and Khammam recorded 45 degree celsius.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the state administration to open camps for providing drinking water and butter milk as a measure of protection against the severe heat conditions.

He also appealed to the general public to avoid sun from 11 AM to 4.30 PM, if possible.

Meanwhile, a weather department official said in Visakhapatnam that the heatwave conditions will prevail for another day and thundershowers are likely to occur in the north-coastal Andhra Pradesh by Monday or Tuesday night.

PTI