Hyderabad, May 23 -- A brutal heatwave sweeping across Telangana has claimed at least 34 lives as temperatures continued to soar above 46 degrees Celsius in several districts, triggering widespread distress and prompting red alerts from weather authorities.

Extreme temperatures were recorded in 244 mandals across the state on Friday, with Sirpur (T) in Asifabad district emerging as the hottest location at 46.5degC.

The mounting death toll comes a day after at least 22 people reportedly died across Telangana on Thursday, underscoring the escalating severity of the ongoing heatwave. The victims included elderly residents, students, farmers, agricultural labourers and daily wage workers from more than a dozen districts.

Deaths reported on...