HYDERABAD: The current heat wave in the State killing an estimated 100 people so far has generated much heat even among weather experts on its timing and duration but the Government remains cool to the recommendation by experts to evolve a long-term policy to tackle this problem.

The heat wave may continue for some more days with a trough and dry winds preventing sea breeze from blowing in.

The heat wave in 2003, which was the severest and longest (27 days) in the State's recorded history with Gannavaram reporting maximum temperature of 48.8 degrees C on May 11, had claimed 3,054 lives.

As many as 20 lakh poultry birds perished and crops over 23,075 hectares dried up as the mercury soared to new peaks that year.

This year, the maximum temperature of 47 degrees C was recorded by Hanamkonda.

Expert panel report

According to a report submitted recently by an experts committee which went into the heat wave deaths in 2003, the frequency of heat wave and its duration has gone up in the State since 1994 due to a variety of factors such as greenhouse effect, gas concentrations which have pushed up temperature by 0.6 degree C.

In 1976-99, warm extremities increased two times faster than the cold ones.

Severe and moderate heat waves in the State are identified when day temperatures go up by 6 degree and 5 degree C over the normal levels respectively. These spells will not normally last beyond three days and a week respectively. The present one is already 10 days old.

Silent killer

Heat wave is a "silent killer" and seen as "deadly combination" with humidity for which the costal districts are known.

Not surprisingly, East Godavari which has numerous water bodies and close to the sea, accounted for the largest number of sunstroke deaths. The worst-affected Telangana has dry heat, said to be relatively less deadly.

But then, ex gratia is not paid for casualties caused by heat wave since it is not included in the list of calamities.

The insurance company operating the Apathbandhu scheme at a cost of Rs. 12 crores to the State exchequer does not recognise a sunstroke deaths as "accidental."

However, the Government has begun paying Rs. 5,000 for deaths caused by sunstroke under the National Family Benefit Scheme. But, there are no takers for this, thanks to the rigid conditions prescribed, including a post-mortem on which the family has to spend Rs 3,000.

The committee sought a long-term policy to handle heat wave, including payment of Rs. 50,000 as ex gratia for each sunstroke death. It recommended launching a research project to study heat wave involving the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, evolving a warning system with hygrometers at vulnerable spots, proper electricity/water supply, stocking of medicines at health centres and greening of bald hills.

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