Heatwave continues to scorch India: Death soars to 1,826; maximum casualties in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

New Delhi: The death toll in the sweltering heat sweeping many parts of the country climbed to 1826 on Thursday, with 414 lives being claimed by the scorching sun in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_2268688” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  AFP image.[/caption] In Andhra Pradesh, the toll rose to 1334 on Thursday, 314 more than on Wednesday. The death figure in Telangana on Thursday stood at 440 against 340 on Wednesday. So far, 43 deaths have been reported from Odisha, 7 seven from Gujarat and two from Delhi. The Met department warned of continuance of the heat wave conditions for the next two days. Heat wave conditions also prevailed in several other states like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Lower hills of Himachal Pradesh also reeled under scorching heat, with Una sizzling at 43.2 degree celsius. “As per information available till 7 pm today, the toll has risen to 440,” said a senior official of the Telangana disaster management department in Hyderabad. Since April 15, Nalgonda district has witnessed 126 deaths, followed by Karimnagar (95), Khammam (82) and Mahabubnagar (37). The heat has also claimed 35 lives in Medak district, 22 in Adilabad, 17 in Nizamabad, 12 in Warangal and seven each in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. According to Indian Meteorological Department, `severe heatwave to heatwave’ conditions prevailed on thursday over many parts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts, and would continue for the next two days. PTI