NEW DELHI:
Ninety more deaths were reported from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha due to the heat wave, raising the nationwide toll to 2338 even as some places like Delhi got respite today from the sweltering weather because of the overcast sky and scattered rainfall.
Delhi received light showers which brought temperature down to 37 degrees celsius from 40.6 degrees celsius yesterday.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh reported death of 42 more people due to the heat wave, raising the toll in the state to 1719 from 1677 yesterday.
In Telangana, the toll rose to 585 from 541, Special Commissioner, Disaster Management Sada Bharghavi said.
She said the latest figure was of May 30 as “we are yet to receive reports for May 31 and today.”
Asked if all these deaths were due to the heatwave, she said, “These are preliminary reports which say these deaths occurred due to the summer. A three-member committee at district-level comprising tehsildar, civil surgeon and local (police) station house officer will find out the exact cause of deaths.”
Following this, a certified report will be issued and ex-gratia will be given to the relatives only if heatwave is confirmed as the cause, she said.
The sunstroke death toll in Odisha mounted today to 25 from 21 even as the mercury level fell in all places with the highest temperature of the day being recorded at 40.2 degree Celsius in the state capital Bhubaneswar. (AGENCIES)