Hyderabad continues to sizzle as the city recorded the highest maximum temperature of the year on Sunday at 42 degree Celsius.
This was a deviation of 2.9 degree Celsius from the usual temperature during this time of the year.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that there would no respite as maximum temperatures likely to be around 41 to 44 degree Celsius in parts of Telangana for the next two days.
The IMD stated that Adilabad recorded the highest temperature in the entire state with 44.3 degree Celsius while Nizamabad recorded 44 degree Celsius, and Medak recorded 43.4 degree Celsius.
In fact, the lowest temperature in the state was at Bhadrachalam, which recorded 39.4 degree Celsius.
However, the IMD has not declared a heat wave, but said that the temperature was rising due to the north-south wind discontinuity which runs from east Vidarbha to interior Tamil Nadu across Telangana.
The IMD declares an official 'heat wave', if there is a deviation of more than 5 degree Celsius from the expected maximum temperature, and if this weather persists for two or three days.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority: “Heatwave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. They typically occur during the months of March and June, and sometimes extend even till July. These extreme temperatures and resultant atmospheric conditions adversely affect people living in these regions as they cause physiological stress, sometimes resulting in death.”
Speaking to TNM earlier this week, IMD Hyderabad scientist, Dr B Raja Rao said, “In 2016, the number of heatwave days were 27, whereas in 2017 it reduced to 23. For 2018, the department has forecasted that the number of heatwave days will exceed 27.”
Meanwhile, the Telangana State Disaster Management Authority (TSDMA) has issued instructions to all the departments in the state on how they could reduce heatwave deaths in the long run.