As the death toll owing to scorching heat continues to mount, the district administration has finally swung into action. The death toll was reportedly close to 100 in the State on Monday.
Administration in several districts went on a campaign mode to educate people about the precautionary measures to be taken to avert sunstroke.
The working hours for those attached to NREGS were rescheduled, and they were asked to work between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and not to venture out till 4 p.m.
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In Vijayawada, police went a step ahead and suspended the duty hours of traffic constables from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The police department has established 11 free drinking water kiosks, and butter milk was also being supplied at these kiosks, said a press release from the department.
With a steady rush of people affected by sun stroke being witnessed at the Government General Hospital in Guntur, Hospital superintendent T. Venugopala Rao said a separate airconditioned ward with four beds had been kept ready at the old casualty block of GGH. Patients were being given anti-diuretics injections, cold IV fluids and kept under observation for 24 hours before being discharged, he added.
Jangameshwarpuram in Guntur recorded 46.8 degrees Celsius, Tuni recorded 46.3 degrees Celsius and Kakinada in East Godavari district recorded 46.1 degrees Celsius.
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