Heatwave claims just one life this summer

Visakhapatnam: The AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has recorded only one death due to heatwave this summer, compared to 28 heatwave deaths in 2019 and 1,369 in 2015.

The death was reported at Machilipatnam mandal in Krishna district on May 20, APSDMA has said.

The drastic fall in numbers is attributed to the lockdown and residents staying at home for over two months, coupled with wide circulation of government alerts on the heatwave.

“Thankfully, we have registered only one death due to heat waves this summer 2020. This is far less compared to previous years,” said a source authorised by APSDMA to TOI.

Andhra Pradesh registered a maximum temperature of 48 degrees Celsius at several places in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Anantapur districts in the last week of May following Cyclone Amphan. A marginally lower maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius was recorded at places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts on May 22 and 23.

“We were worried about the severe heat conditions and its impact on the people, particularly women, children and senior citizens. But the severe heat conditions did not affect the people in the state,” a disaster management official said.

An official in the Visakhapatnam district administration said the government had instructed collectors to provide temporary shelters and organised health camps to mitigate the effect of the heatwave.