Tribal Agriculture Extension Officer working in Suryapet district among the dead; Ramagundam sizzles at 46 degrees

A young tribal Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO), working in Suryapet district, was among a dozen people who died due to sun stroke in the last 24 hours in Telangana.

Ramavath Nagaraju (29), an AEO at Damarcharla mandal, had recently undertaken household survey. He used to reside at Miryalaguda and commute to Damaracharla for work. On Wednesday, he fell sick and was rushed to a hospital where he died while undergoing treatment for sun stroke.

The death of this resident of Shunyapad in Palakidu mandal of Suryapet district, shocked officials. Reports reaching the State headquarters said that the total number of deaths could be well over 50.

With hot air blazing across the State and day temperatures ranging between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius and more, about 1,327 cases of hospitalisation were reported in the past fortnight in the erstwhile Medak district. Cases were said to be on the rise.

Karimnagar sizzles

On Thursday, Karimnagar district sizzled at 45 degree Celsius, while temperatures in the Ramagundam coal belt area were slightly over 46 degree Celsius.

87 treated for sunstroke

The situation was similar in erstwhile combined Medak district with cases of sunstroke being reported. On Wednesday alone, 87 people were treated at primary health centres in the newly-formed Sangareddy district. They include 78 from Sangareddy division, five from Narayankhed and four from Zaheerabad.

Over 25 persons were said to have died due to heatwave in Siddipet district so far this summer. Since Tuesday, four deaths have been reported.