Hyderabad, May 30: The severe heatwave sweeping parts of Andhra Pradesh has so far claimed 580 lives, official sources said here today. Sources at the relief commissionerate said Nalgonda district has accounted for the highest number of deaths -- 119 followed by East Godavari 85 and West Godavari 73, where the toll has gone up by 10 since yesterday.

Fifty-nine deaths were reported from Prakasam followed by Karimnagar 52, while Krishna, Guntur and Nellore recorded 44, 46 and 30 deaths respectively, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Vijayawada continued to record the highest temperature of 48.7 degrees C followed by the pilgrim town Tirupati 44.9 and Hyderabad 43.2 degrees C, meteorological sources said here this evening.

The heat wave was likely to continue for a few more days and the weather department has warned people in Vijayawada, Kothagudem in Khammam, East and West Godavari districts not to venture out when the sun was at its peak.

Bureau Report