Telangana heat wave 2025: CM Revanth Reddy orders emergency measures as 30 districts cross 42°C
Synopsis
With 30 of Telangana's 33 districts crossing 42°C and 12 breaching 45°C, the state is in the grip of one of its most intense pre-monsoon heat spells. CM Revanth Reddy has activated emergency protocols — but a five-day IMD alert with no rain relief in sight means the real test of the state's public health machinery is only just beginning.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy issued emergency directives on 20 May 2025 as severe heat wave conditions gripped Telangana.
30 out of 33 districts recorded maximum temperatures above 42°C ; 12 districts crossed 45°C .
Aliapur in Jagtial district was the hottest spot at 45.9°C , according to the Telangana Development Planning Society.
The IMD has issued a heat wave alert for 15+ districts covering 21–22 May and a five-day warning period.
Authorities ordered deployment of ORS packets , free Chali Vendralu water centres, and reinforced sunstroke treatment at hospitals.
Ramakrishna Rao has been tasked with continuous district-level monitoring.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on 20 May 2025 issued an urgent appeal to residents to stay indoors during afternoon hours and take precautionary measures, after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a severe heat wave alert covering multiple districts across the state. The directive follows alarming temperature data showing 30 out of 33 districts recording maximums above 42 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
Key Directives from the Chief Minister
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao to continuously monitor conditions across affected districts and issue guidelines to district Collectors. Officials were instructed to ensure adequate availability of ORS packets, uninterrupted drinking water supply, and continuous power supply to residents.
The Medical and Health Department was specifically directed to strengthen treatment protocols for sunstroke patients admitted to hospitals. Local urban bodies were ordered to set up Chali Vendralu — free drinking water centres — at accessible locations across towns and cities.
IMD Alert: Districts on High Watch
According to the IMD bulletin issued on Wednesday, heat wave conditions are very likely at isolated places across 15 districts on Thursday, 21 May, including Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Jagtial, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Khammam, Nalgonda, Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, among others.
The alert extends into Friday, 22 May, with heat wave conditions forecast for a partially overlapping set of districts including Adilabad, Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Nagarkurnool, and Wanaparthy. The IMD has issued the warning for a five-day period.
Temperature Records: How Severe Is It
According to the Telangana Development Planning Society, Wednesday's readings were severe across the board. 12 districts recorded maximums above 45 degrees Celsius, with Aliapur in Korutla mandal of Jagtial district emerging as the state's hottest point at 45.9 degrees Celsius.
Three locations across Nalgonda, Nirmal, and Siddipet districts recorded 45.8 degrees Celsius. Velganoor in Mancherial and Eligaid in Peddapalli logged 45.7 degrees Celsius. Five places across Adilabad, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Rajanna Sircilla recorded 45.6 degrees Celsius.
What Residents Should Do
Authorities have advised people to avoid stepping out between noon and 3 pm IST, stay hydrated with ORS solutions, and seek immediate medical attention for symptoms of heat exhaustion. Residents in North Telangana districts — which are bearing the worst of the heat — have been specifically urged to use the Chali Vendralu centres and not to travel during peak afternoon hours.
With the IMD warning covering the next five days, the situation in North Telangana remains closely watched. The state administration's response in the coming 48 hours will be critical in determining whether the current advisory framework is sufficient or whether stricter public safety measures are warranted.
Point of View
With the mercury touching 45.9°C in Jagtial — puts this among Telangana's most acute pre-monsoon heat events in recent years. The government's response is textbook: ORS, water centres, hospital alerts. What is less clear is whether the Chali Vendralu network has the last-mile reach to serve rural populations in North Telangana, where the heat is fiercest and health infrastructure is thinnest. A five-day IMD alert with no forecast rain relief means the window for complacency is zero.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Telangana districts are under heat wave alert on 21 and 22 May 2025?
On 21 May, the IMD has forecast heat wave conditions at isolated places in 15 districts including Karimnagar, Khammam, Nalgonda, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Mancherial, Jagtial, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri. On 22 May, the alert covers districts including Adilabad, Mulugu, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, and Jayashankar Bhupalapally, among others.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Telangana on 20 May 2025?
Aliapur in Korutla mandal of Jagtial district recorded the highest temperature at 45.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, according to the Telangana Development Planning Society. Three locations in Nalgonda, Nirmal, and Siddipet also recorded 45.8 degrees Celsius.
What precautionary measures has the Telangana government announced?
The government has directed officials to ensure availability of ORS packets, uninterrupted drinking water supply, and continuous power. Free drinking water centres called Chali Vendralu are being set up in urban areas, and the Medical and Health Department has been directed to improve treatment for sunstroke patients.
What has CM Revanth Reddy advised residents during the heat wave?
CM Revanth Reddy has appealed to residents to avoid stepping out of their homes and to refrain from travelling during afternoon hours. He has also directed Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao to monitor the situation continuously and guide district Collectors on safety measures.
How long is the IMD heat wave alert in effect for Telangana?
The IMD has issued the heat wave alert for a five-day period, covering multiple North and Central Telangana districts. The bulletin issued on Wednesday specifically forecasts conditions for 21 and 22 May, with the broader warning extending beyond that window.
