The death toll from the severe heat wave sweeping southern India passed 750, officials said Tuesday, predicting a relief from soaring temperatures over the next few days, according to dpa. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states were facing one of their hottest summers with mercury peaking at 48 degrees in certain areas. Heat wave conditions have prevailed in the region since April but most deaths have been reported in the past few days, officials said. In Andhra Pradesh, 551 people had died of heat stroke since May 18, said P Thulasi Rani, special commissioner of the state's disaster management department said. "Our district officials have informed that 332 people died on the weekend alone," she said. In neighbouring Telangana, 200 people had died since April 15, with more than 50 deaths attributed to the weather since Sunday, state disaster management chief Bhambal Ram Meena said.
