Telangana government forms committee to tackle heat wave

Based on guidelines issued by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Hyderabad: The State government formed a committee to prepare a comprehensive heat wave action plan based on guidelines issued by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and plans prepared by other States like Gujarat and Odisha to avoid sunstroke fatalities and illness in the future.

In Telangana, the period from April to June is summer. During this period, the temperatures rise considerably, to 47 degrees Celsius in May in Khammam, Nizamabad, Bhadrachalam, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and Warangal district. To protect and prepare people of Telangana from extreme heat events, the government has set up the committee headed by Secretary Revenue (Disaster Management).

Severe and extended heat waves can cause disruption to general, social and economic services. The government agencies will have a critical role to play in preparing and responding to heat waves at the local level, working closely with health and other related departments on a long-term strategic plan like ensuring preparedness and convergence between departments and other stakeholders, and establishing early warning and communication systems apart from developing inter-agency response plan and coordination in field.

The proactive measures by the State government and the close association with agencies like Indian Meteorological Departments, Telangana State Development Planning Society, UNICEF, Hyderabad Field Office, Civil Society Organizations and hundreds of voluntary organisations and philanthropists ensured a significant reduction in the fatalities from 541 in 2015 to nine in 2020.

The present heat wave action plan is intended to mobilise the policy makers, district level administration, field level personnel and other stakeholders to mitigate the impacts and combat the health hazards during heat wave season in Telangana.

Blistering heat affects normal life in Karimnagar

Karimnagar: The blistering heat coupled with hot wind affected normal life in erstwhile Karimnagar district. People were surprised by the sudden rise in temperature on Wednesday. The town recorded 41 degree Celsius, the highest this reason so far.

Though there has been a gradual increase in temperatures in the last few days, people never experienced such severe heat weather conditions. Almost all roads wore a desert look with movement of people dropping drastically by the afternoon. Unable to tolerate the scorching heat, a majority of the people rushed home by noon and were confined indoors till the evening.
While some people were seen taking shelter under trees and shadows of structures, others moved by covering their heads and faces with scarves and handkerchiefs.

To get respite from sweltering heat, people were seen rushing to juice stalls and consuming coconut water.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Mahender, a medical representative, said: “I extensively tours in the town as well as outside the town every day. However, on Wednesday, I was unable to move on the roads due scorching sun and heat winds”.

A government employee, Srinivas, said the weather condition in the morning was quite normal. However, it has completely changed when he came out from the office for lunch, he said. On the other hand, weather department officials forecasted the high temperatures in 24 districts for three days.

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