Sunstroke cases on the rise in Andhra Pradesh

  1. There has been a high number of sunstroke/heatstroke cases in Andhra Pradesh which is reeling under heat wave conditions.
  2. A heat wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures-more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season. Heat wave is considered if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains, 37°C or more for coastal stations and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions.
  3. The National Disaster Management Authority has had prepared Guidelines for preparation of action plan: prevention and management of heat-wave. These guidelines aims to facilitate different stakeholders in preparing a Heat Wave Management Plan. The guidelines provide insight into the heat related illness and the necessary mitigative and response actions to be undertaken.
  4. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority has been implanting a heat wave action plan to mitigate and response to the impact of heat waves.
  5. The Andhra Pradesh government is also focussing on Heat Index to take preventive steps and issue advisory to people. A combined effect of temperature and humidity is defined as the Heat Index and used as a measure of human discomfort.