Kurnool in the grip of heatwave

Kurnool: As the heatwave continues to grip the district, people are fearing to come out of their houses after 10 am. Almost all roads in the district wore a deserted look with people hardly coming out. According to sources, the heatwave has claimed 17 lives across the district up to April this summer.

In April second week, the temperatures have soared to 43.5 degree Celsius in Nandyal. Several towns in Kurnool district are sizzling with a temperature touching 44 degree Celsius. The mandals situated on the western part of Kurnool district are the worst affected as they are continuously reeling under severe drought.

A source revealed that Chagalamari, Pagidiyala, Devanakonda, Allagadda, Owk, Kodumur, Dhone, Adoni, Pathikonda, Alur, Aspari and Yemmiganur have recorded 44.2 degree Celsius. The scorching heat continued to play havoc in Kurnool with temperature touching 44 degrees, the highest this season. An unclaimed source revealed that the heatwave has showed adverse effects on the livestock. 

Workers of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) are the worst sufferers. Karreppa (55) of Midenehall village in Halaharvi mandal died after suffering sunstroke on Saturday. K Naik (58), a native of Sitamma Tanda in Peapully mandal and M Laxmamma (45), a resident of Veldurthi also succumbed to the intense heatwave.

Speaking to The Hans India, Epidemiologist Dr K Mahesh Babu stated that the department has initiated preventive measures to curb sunstroke deaths. “Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) sachets have been kept at all health centres across the district along with water distribution kiosks,” he said, adding buttermilk is also being served at the water kiosks. Epidemiologist mentioned that awareness rallies are being conducted in the villages to educate the people on how to save themselves from sunstrokes. 

“We have conducted more than 8,000 awareness camps across the district,” said Dr Mahesh Babu. When asked about the number of deaths, he said that 17 deaths were reported from March 1 to April 30 due to sunstroke. Out of 17, only two deaths, one in Gonegandla and the other in H Khairavadi have been confirmed and the rest are suspected to be sunstroke deaths. 

By V Narendra Kumar