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The death toll in the heat wave that continues to grip Andhra Pradesh mounted to 524, officials said. The commissioner disaster management, who had Saturday put the toll at 294 since 1 April, has now revised it to 524.
The highest maximum temperature of 51.9 degrees Celsius was recorded at Tuni and Visakhpatnam. Kakinada and Vijayawada recorded 48.4 degrees Celsius. The mercury touched 47.2 degress Celsius in Bapatla, Machilipatnam, Rentachintala, Hanamkonda and Ramagundam.
According to a statement released by the commissioner, Guntur district bore the brunt with 95 deaths. Prakasam district accounted for 75 deaths, East Godavari 60, Nalgonda 47, Adilabad and Karimnagar 43 each, Khammam 26, Warangal 20, West Godavari and Nizamabad district 16 each.
India Meteorological Department has warned that severe heat wave conditions would prevail in coastal Andhra and heat wave conditions in parts of Telangana during the next 48 hours.
The kin of the sunstroke victims get a compensation of Rs 50, 000 under the Apadhbandhu scheme, which covers only below poverty line (BPL) families. If the government decides to treat the sunstroke victims on par with victims of natural disasters their kin could get up to Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation.
As per a Times of India report, CPI state secretary K Narayana has questioned the official insistence on production of FIR for claiming compensation under the Apadhbandhu scheme. Telangana JAC convener Prof Kodandaram also alleged that the state was releasing doctored temperatures in Telangana to avoid special compensation for Singareni Collieries workers.
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