Andhra set to sizzle at 48°C this week

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is likely to boil at 48° Celsius this week. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management (APSDMA) officials, temperatures are set to hover around 48°C from May 23 at a few places in Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and East Godavari.

This has been attributed to cyclone Amphan and north-westerly winds that have already started entering the state from north India, said S Stella, director, the IMD Amaravati Centre.

“Super cyclone Amphan completely took away the moisture content in the atmosphere over the land, thus causing clear sky conditions. The north-westerly winds are also blowing from Thursday. This will continue till May 28. Later, there will be some rains associated with thunderstorms. People should take utmost care during this week,” Stella told TOI.

When contacted, the APSDMA commissioner K Kanna Babu said that the government has taken all requisite steps to alert the public about the hot weather conditions in the days ahead. “A plan of action is being readied now. We have been alloted special funds from this year so there will be no shortage of funds. Dos and Donts have been circulated among the public,” Kanna Babu told TOI.

The district administrations shall take necesary steps and organise a campaign and provide temporary shelters, water and buttermilk, and emergency medicines to mitigate the heat wave affect in the districts.