Summer toll in Telangana crosses 170

Severe summer in the State this year, continues in the form of dangerous heat waves in several districts, is suspected to have claimed over 170 lives so far.

Revenue officials are now verifying each of these deaths to pinpoint the exact cause of death. Officials of the Disaster Management Department (DMD) said that as of Monday, there were 171 suspected heatwave deaths across the State, with Khammam district topping the list with 56 suspected sunstroke deaths since April 1. The State capital, so far, had not reported any such deaths.

Karimnagar and Nalgonda have reported 27 and 25 deaths respectively, official said. The department has prepared the list based on data sent



by district-level Revenue officials. With no confirmation of whether all these were sunstroke deaths, three-member mandal-level committees, comprising a government civil surgeon, sub-inspector of the police station concerned and the tahsildar concerned, will inquire into each death.

Based on the reports sent by the committee, a compensation of Rs 50,000 would be given to the bereaved family members under the ‘Apathbandhu’ scheme, officials said. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heatwave alert from May 21 to 24. The department has forwarded the same to district Collectors and departments concerned across the State for taking up precautionary measures.