The city lived up to its reputation as Blazewada on Friday with mercury levels soaring to 47.2 degrees C, a surge of nearly three degrees within 24 hours.
Officials of the State Disaster Management Department said six people have died due to sunstroke in Krishna district alone.
After having waited all of Thursday expecting temperatures in the city to come down, against all forecasts by weathermen, the district administration finally moved on Friday to issue an alert asking people not to venture out between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. unless for something very important.
It also listed out dos and don’ts to get relief from the sweltering heat.
In the face startling figures reported by the met office, Krishna district Joint Collector Gandham Chandrudu admitted that unlike in previous years, temperatures are breaching the 45 degrees Celsius even before the onset of rohini karte (May 25), during which period, the people of this city say axiomatically, even rocks crack.
According to the Meteorology Department, Gannavaram airport recorded a maximum temperature of 47.2 degrees C up from 44.5 degrees C on Thursday and 45.4 degrees C on Wednesday. A curfew-like situation prevailed in the streets of the city as even hardy construction workers retired to the shade.
The ever-busy stretch from Benz Circle to Police Control Room wore a deserted look from 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Owners of several commercial establishments at Patamata, M.G. Road and Besant Road downed shutters.
Mr. Chandrudu said elaborate arrangements have been made at primary, mandal and district health centres to render treatment to those affected by sunstroke. “As temperatures have been increasing for the last four days, people should take responsibility to plant more saplings,” he suggested, adding that parents should administer oral rehydration solution (ORS) to children frequently.
Construction labourers, the category of workers most exposed to the sun, continued to work during the hottest part of this hottest day, bar a lunch break from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Asked if work time restrictions would apply to them too, Deputy Commissioner of Labour N. Suryanarayana said it was the employers responsibility to ensure ‘the safety of workers in summer.
“We will take action under the Building and other Construction Workers Act 1996 if anyone lodges complaint with us against employers,” he added.