Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, 22 May directed local authorities to declare holidays in areas experiencing extreme heat conditions, as the state continues to battle a severe heat wave that has pushed temperatures to 48 degrees Celsius in parts of the region. The directive came during a high-level review meeting held at Amaravati, attended by Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad and senior officials from multiple departments.

Key Directives from the Review Meeting

Chief Minister Naidu instructed officials to identify areas recording the highest temperatures and issue continuous warnings and advisories to residents. He emphasised that District Collectors and mandal-level officials must remain fully prepared to manage emergency situations arising from the extreme weather. He also called for the establishment of emergency response centres across different parts of the state.

Naidu stressed the need to ensure availability of drinking water, buttermilk, and ORS packets at crowded places and public gathering areas. He directed officials to supply water through tankers wherever shortages arise in rural and urban areas, and suggested providing water troughs and earthen pots for animals and birds affected by the heat.

El Niño Link and Temperature Surge

Officials briefed the Chief Minister that the heat wave intensity had escalated significantly due to severe El Niño conditions. They noted that during the severe El Niño year of 2015, the state recorded a peak temperature of 50.1 degrees Celsius. This year, temperatures have already touched 48 degrees Celsius under comparable conditions, having risen from 45 degrees Celsius over just the past three days.

Heat Shelters and Infrastructure Response

According to officials, 1,349 heat shelters and cooling centres have been established in urban areas across the state. Additionally, arrangements have been made at 446 traffic junctions to provide shade for motorists and police personnel. The government has also activated media and social media platforms to disseminate heat wave safety information continuously.

Vulnerable Groups and Green Cover Push

Naidu urged elderly persons, pregnant women, children, and those with health conditions to avoid stepping outdoors between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. He also underscored the long-term importance of increasing green cover across the state, pointing out that improved groundwater levels support vegetation and help mitigate extreme temperatures. He cited Annamayya district as an example of comparatively lower temperatures linked to better green cover. Protecting lives, he said, remains the government's top priority as the state navigates what officials describe as one of its most intense heat seasons in recent years.