Naidu orders local holidays in severely heat-hit areas

Vijayawada: Stating that protection of human life is the govt’s top priority, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to remain on high alert to protect public health and safety during the extreme heatwave conditions in the state. Reviewing the rising temperatures and heatwave conditions here on Friday, Naidu instructed the official machinery to take immediate precautionary measures and continuously monitor vulnerable regions recording extreme temperatures. He directed officials to issue regular alerts and advisories to people in severely affected areas.The chief minister also instructed authorities to declare local holidays in areas witnessing extreme heat conditions, depending on the severity of the situation. Senior officials informed him that the impact of strong El Niño conditions had significantly intensified the heatwave across the state.Naidu directed officials to ensure the availability of cold drinking water, buttermilk and ORS packets at crowded public places and high-footfall areas to provide relief to people from the scorching heat. He also asked district collectors to hold media briefings and create awareness among the public on precautions to prevent heatstroke and dehydration. Information and alerts should also be disseminated continuously through social media platforms, he said.The chief minister appealed to people to avoid unnecessary outdoor movement during peak afternoon hours. He particularly advised elderly persons, pregnant women, children and those with health complications not to venture out between 11 am and 4 pm. Naidu directed district collectors and mandal-level officials to remain fully prepared to tackle emergencies arising out of the heatwave. Principal secretary S Suresh Kumar explained that 1,349 heat shelters and cooling centres had already been set up in urban areas, while shade arrangements were made at 446 traffic junctions for motorists and traffic police personnel.The chief minister also instructed officials to arrange water troughs and earthen pots for birds and animals suffering due to the extreme heat. During the review, officials informed Naidu that temperatures in the state had risen from 45 degrees Celsius to 48 degrees Celsius over the last three days. They recalled that Andhra Pradesh had recorded a maximum temperature of 50.1 degrees Celsius during the strong El Niño year of 2015.Naidu stressed the need to improve greenery across rural and urban areas, stating that increased groundwater levels and vegetation would help reduce the impact of extreme temperatures. He cited Annamayya district as an example, noting that the district recorded comparatively lower temperatures due to better green cover.