Telangana heatwave: 34 dead as temperatures top 46°C, Khammam among nation’s hottest
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Hyderabad: A severe heatwave sweeping Telangana has claimed at least 34 lives as temperatures soared above 46°C in several districts, officials said on Friday, May 22. Khammam was listed among the 10 hottest locations in India on the day.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported extreme heat in 244 mandals across the state, with Sirpur (T) in Asifabad district recording the highest temperature at 46.5°C. Several other districts, including Jagtial, Karimnagar, Mancherial, Nizamabad, Peddapalli, Sircilla and Suryapet, recorded temperatures between 46.2°C and 46.4°C.
The mounting death toll follows reports of at least 22 heat-related fatalities on Thursday, highlighting the escalating severity of the heatwave. Victims have included elderly residents, students, farmers, agricultural labourers and daily-wage workers from more than a dozen districts.
Local reports named several victims from Thursday, including 89-year-old Kesa Lachamma of Mahabubabad, 54-year-old woman farmer Gugulothu Amrutha, and 25-year-old student Gannoj Anil of Hanamkonda, who reportedly succumbed to sunstroke. Other fatalities were recorded in Mulugu, Bhupalpally, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Old Mancherial and Khammam, among places.
On Friday, deaths were reported across several districts, with Adilabad recording the highest number of fatalities that day. Reported victims included people aged from their 20s to their 80s, such as Rajeshwar, 52, from Nizamabad; Srinivas, 40, a mason from Jagtial; and Kova Kiran Kumar, 27, from Adilabad.
Night time temperatures remained unusually high owing to low humidity, offering little relief from the daytime heat, meteorologists said.
The IMD has issued a red alert for 18 districts and warned that severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist for several days. Authorities have urged residents to avoid direct sun exposure during peak afternoon hours, remain hydrated and seek immediate medical help for symptoms of heatstroke.
The Telangana government has raised compensation for heatstroke-related deaths from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh. Officials have also been instructed to set up cooling wards and to take extra precautions for outdoor workers.
Experts have warned that prolonged extreme heat can disproportionately affect the elderly, children, outdoor labourers and those with pre-existing health conditions, and have called for expanded public health measures and community awareness campaigns.