With majority of people preferring to travel in the evenings and nights owing to the scorching heat, the seat occupancy ratio came down by nearly 25 per cent in APSRTC buses, and several bus stations almost wore a deserted look. In view of the heavy rush during night at the Pandit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada, officials are operating 60 more services to Hyderabad from Vijayawada in addition to the regular 200 services.
In the Vijayawada zone of the APSRTC, which covers Vijayawada, Guntur and West Godavari, the revenue earnings have come down by nearly Rs. 10 lakh a day.
Compensation
Rural Development Minister Kimidi Mrunalini asked the relatives of the deceased to register the deaths with revenue and police personnel. They will receive a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh each once officials confirm the cause of death.
ORS sachets distributed
Meanwhile, district authorities are organising water distribution camps where ORS sachets are being distributed. Prakasam District Collector Sujatha Sharma said two lakh ORS sachets had been arranged for distribution, besides roping in philanthropists for distributing butter milk in villages.
She said majority of victims were aged above 60.
Vizianagaram Collector M.M. Naik said ‘chalivendrams’ had been established in 921 panchayats and bus complexes, national highways, and densely populated areas.
Vijayawada and Machilipatnam in Krishna district and Jangameshwarapuram in Guntur district recorded 47 degrees Celsius, the highest in the State on Sunday.
Bapatla in Guntur and Nandigama in Krishna district recorded 46 degrees Celsius, while Kavali in Nellore, Ongole in Prakasam and Tuni in East Godavari districts recorded 44 degrees Celsius.
The rising day temperature is forcing several people to purchase air conditioners to get relief from the scorching heat.
Such is the demand for air conditioners that some showrooms in Vijayawada are selling around 60 sets a day.
60 more night services being plied to Hyderabad from Vijayawada
RTC revenue has come down by nearly Rs. 10 lakh
a day
60 more night services being plied to Hyderabad from Vijayawada
