Unrelenting heatwave claims 18 lives in Andhra Pradesh

Rising temperatures and extreme heat claimed 18 lives across Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.Even as so many people lost their lives because of the heatwave, the India Meteorological Department predicted two more days of  extreme conditions in coastal Andhra and Telangana regions and temperatures will continue to rise for the next 15 days, reported Times of India.[caption id="attachment_812833" align="alignleft" width="380"] Image for representation only. Reuters[/caption]Temperatures have been rising all across India. Delhi temperatures reached a record high of  45.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday and 46 degrees Celsius on Friday.Meanwhile in Andhra Pradesh, Rentachintala in Guntur turned into a virtual cauldron with temperatures touching the 47 degrees Celsius mark. Ramagundem in Karimnagar recorded 46 degrees Celsius, while Mahbubnagar recorded 44 degrees Celsius, reported Times of India.Streets wore a deserted look in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nizamabad, Adilabad and other towns as people remained indoors to escape the blazing sun.The Times of India report said, three persons died in Warangal, Adilabad and Karimnagar, two died in East Godavari. Prakasam, Krishna, Kadapa, Nellore, Mahbubnagar, Srikakulam and Nalgonda reported one death each.Scorching heat continued in Hyderabad with temperature touching 44 degrees Thursday. It was the highest temperature of the season. In 2010, the city had recorded 45 degrees, a record in 20 years.The met officials said the heat wave was caused by hot winds blowing from Rajasthan and the northwest. They warned that the heat wave would continue over the next two days.India Meterological Department has warned that heat wave would prevail in Telangana and coastal Andhra for next 48 hours.With no low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre said the temperature would remain high till monsoon's arrival, which is likely in the second week of June.With inputs from IANS