At least 300 die of heatwave in Telangana so far this summer

As many as 300 heat-related deaths have been reported in Telangana since the beginning of the summer season this year, state disaster management department said on Monday.

"These deaths were confirmed by the three-member committee (set up by the state government to assess cases of deaths related to heat). Nalgonda district tops the chart with 90 deaths followed by Mahbubnagar with 44," an official in the disaster management control room said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its bulletin said there was marked fall in maximum temperatures at one or two places over Telangana. "They were appreciably below normal at one or two places over Telangana. The highest maximum temperature of 44 degree Celsius was recorded at Ramagundam and Adilabad," it said.

Thunderstorm accompanied with squall is very likely to occur at isolated places in the Telangana state during next 72 hours, the Met Department predicted. Telangana was under the grip of severe heatwave this summer.

The state government had earlier issued heatwave alerts to all the districts, asking them to take precautionary measures. The government had also announced Rs 50,000 ex-gratia to kin of each of the deceased.