Andhra reels under severe heatwave, rains likely in isolated areas

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh is witnessing contrasting weather conditions, with several districts reeling under extreme heat while isolated regions are likely to receive rainfall and thunderstorms over the coming days. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority on Sunday warned that severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist for the next three days.

According to APSDMA, Chityala in East Godavari district recorded the season’s highest temperature of 48.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Tanuku in West Godavari district and Piduguralla in Palnadu district at 48.1 degrees Celsius each.

“Record-level heat intensity is being recorded in the state and similar conditions are likely to continue for the next three days. People should postpone their travel as much as possible between 11 am and 4 pm,” said APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain in an official press release.

Temperatures crossed 45 degrees Celsius in 13 districts, while it remained above 44 degrees Celsius in 174 mandals spread across 17 districts, indicating continued severe heat conditions across large parts of the state.

Elesewhere, temperatures touched 45.7 degrees Celsius in Mylavaram of NTR district, 45.6 degrees in Visakhapatnam Rural, 45.5 degrees in Karedu of Prakasam district, 45.2 degrees in Kommipadu of Nellore district and 44.6 degrees in Nandanamarella of Markapuram district.

Meanwhile, APSDMA forecast severe heatwave conditions in 29 mandals and heatwave conditions in 166 mandals on Monday, while severe heatwave conditions may affect 50 mandals and heatwave conditions in 205 mandals on Tuesday.

According to the forecast, temperatures of 45–47 degrees Celsius are likely in parts of Konaseema, East Godavari, the Polavaram area of West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu and Prakasam districts.

Maximum temperatures of 43–45 degrees Celsius are likely in parts of Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Kakinada, Markapuram and Nellore districts, while temperatures of 40–43 degrees Celsius are expected in Srikakulam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya, Chittoor and Tirupati districts.

Meanwhile, a trough extending from Odisha to North Andhra is likely to bring light to moderate rainfall accompanied by lightning at isolated places in Markapuram, Prakasam, Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur and Chittoor districts, while scattered rainfall accompanied by lightning is also likely in Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Polavaram, Anakapalli, Sri Sathya Sai, Kadapa, Annamayya and Tirupati districts.

People have been advised to avoid standing under trees, electric poles or hoardings during thunderstorms and rainfall and to remain alert amid severe heat conditions.

The APSDMA further advised elderly people, pregnant women, lactating mothers and people suffering from heart ailments, diabetes and blood pressure conditions to take extra precautions and consume sufficient water, lemon water, buttermilk and coconut water.