Heat wave toll mounts to 198 in Andhra Pradesh

The death toll in the severe heat wave sweeping Andhra Pradesh for the last eight days has mounted to 198 on Friday, official sources said.

Karimnagar district in Telangana region accounted for the highest number of deaths at 44, followed by East Godavari with 42 deaths. Another 32 persons died in Nalgonda, 31 in Krishna district, 20 in Nellore, 15 in West Godavari, five in Prakasam, four in Warangal, two each in Cuddapah and Rangareddy and one in Chittoor district.

While the heat wave has slightly subsided in north coastal Andhra with some rains also reported in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts, severe heat wave conditions persisted over six south coastal districts -- Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari -- as well as Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts in interior Telangana region.

The meteorological department has sounded a warning that severe heat wave conditions would prevail over the next 48 hours in south coastal Andhra districts, as well as Telangana region.