The unprecedented heatwave conditions last year that claimed about 1700 deaths in Andhra pradesh spurred the state government in to action. TDP government is gearing up itself to meet the challenge of heatwave in next summer in case it recurs.

The state today has constituted a high-level committee to prepare a “heatwave action plan” covering all aspects including health and medical care, employment, nutrition and drinking water to prevent deaths at the time of heatwave.

The committee will be headed by principal secretary.revenue and director, disaster management will act as member-convener. The committee will have Principal Secretaries of Health, School Education, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Information Technology & Communications and Animal Husbandry, director of Institute of Preventive Medicine, commissioner of Information & Public Relations and Indian Meteorological Department director as members. The action plan will be prepared after consulting the experts, NGOs and other stakeholders

Last year, along with Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana reported highest number of fatalities during the heatwave. The figure for Telangana was 585.