The prevailing heat wave conditions in Prakasam district for the second week has claimed 127 lives so far, with 39 persons succumbing to sunstroke in the last 24 hours.
Nagulapupadu mandal has registered 11 deaths so far since May 19, the highest in the district, followed by Chirala (10), Addanki (9), Mundlamuru (9), Parchur (9), Santamagaluru (9), Ulavapadu (6) and Tripurantakam(5), the revenue officials have said.
People are having a tough time as the maximum day temperature continue to hovering around 44 degrees Celsius in Ongole and the meteorology officials here have said that the conditions are likely continue till the weekend. Mercury even soared up to 48.4 degrees Celsius at Inkollu and 47 degrees Celsius at Vetapalem, according to the District Collector Sujatha Sharma.
In an attempt to help out people, a control room has been opened at the Collectorate. Those in distress can dial 08592-232400 for any assistance, the Collector announce at a media conference here on Monday. The regular grievance day scheduled for Monday was cancelled and the Collector convened a video conference with mandal level officials to review the steps being undertaken to mitigate the summer woes.
Giving details about the deaths, she said that most of the victims were of above 60 years in age, adding that the three-member panel had been constituted at the mandal level to verify each case and recommend for ex gratia for the victims.
“We have opened Chalivendrams (cool drinking water supply centres) in public places both in villages and towns. Awareness campaigns are under way to educate people about the precautions to be undertaken,” she said, adding that the RTC authorities had been told to reschedule services.
“More than two lakh ORS packets have been sent for people at the grassroots level,” said District Medical and Health Officer J. Yasmin.
Chalivendrams (cool drinking water supply centres) have been opened at public places
Sujatha Sharma,Collector
