Kadapa sizzles at 40 degree Celsius

-    Unofficial sources say 10 sunstroke deaths are reported
-    Awareness camps in rural areas explaining the precautionary measures in summer: Collector

Kadapa: People in the district are staying indoors with day temperature increasing to 40 degree Celsius. Streets in the Kadapa city wore a deserted look with the people completing their daily chores before 11 am and resuming them after 5 pm due to intense heat.  According to unofficial sources, 10 sunstroke cases were reported at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and in Area Hospitals at Proddatur, Mydukur, Pulivendula and at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Kadapa city. 

Fruit juice stalls and coconut vendors are doing brisk business with the customers making a beeline to their outlets. As per the warning issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 26 mandals in the district are experiencing vulnerable and heatwave conditions. According to reports, the temperature will cross 42 degree Celsius in the first week of April and likely to go up to 47 to 49 centigrade in third week of May. Meanwhile, District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) N Uma Sundari said that her department has already initiated precautionary measures to face the situation. 

She said adequate stock of ORS sachets were made available in all PHCs in the district. Speaking to The Hans India, District Collector T Baburao Naidu said that a special meeting with all departments was conducted on March 25 and action plan designed for meeting such pathetic conditions. He said that district administration is planning to organise the awareness camps in the rural areas to motivate the public in district. However, the DMHO said that no sunstroke deaths were reported so far except some minor incidents due to intense heat in the rural areas. He advised the people to avoid direct sunlight and to drink lime juice and butter milk with salt.

Srinivasa Rao