Cold Wave Grips ASR, Manyam As Temperatures Plunge To 3.2°C
Dr D. Hemalatha Devi, principal of Paderu Medical College and in-charge superintendent of the district hospital, said around 40 winter-related cases are being reported daily at the medical college and district hospital alone.
Visakhapatnam: A severe cold wave has gripped the ASR and Parvathipuram Manyam districts, with temperatures dipping further on Thursday and disrupting everyday life, particularly for children and the elderly.
According to official readings, G. Madugula recorded the lowest temperature at 3.2°C, followed by Dumbriguda 3.6°C, Araku Valley 3.9°C, Munchingput 4.4°C, Hukumpeta 5.4°C, Paderu 6.7°C and Pedabayalu 7.1°C. Even the normally warmer Rampachodavaram division logged an average minimum of 13°C.
Dr D. Hemalatha Devi, principal of Paderu Medical College and in-charge superintendent of the district hospital, said around 40 winter-related cases are being reported daily at the medical college and district hospital alone. “The actual number could be higher, considering cases handled at community health centres and primary health centres,” she said.
Most cases involve viral fever, cold, cough, influenza and pneumonia—conditions made worse as many tribal families lack warm clothing, she added. Children exposed to harsh cold conditions are at risk of Bell’s palsy, she cautioned, advising parents to protect infants’ ears with cotton plugs.
Across the tribal belt, daily routines have been hit hard. While adults are busy with paddy harvesting, young children and the elderly remain indoors around fire pits. Almost every home maintains a fire to stay warm, though smoke from firewood has created additional health concerns.
Schoolchildren particularly those from disadvantaged families are bearing the brunt of the cold as many cannot afford sweaters or jackets. Several residential school students have had to buy sweaters with their own money, while some private schools are selling them at subsidised rates to prevent absenteeism.
ASR district collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar said he has proposed resumption of warm-clothes distribution for school-going children. The district has 196 ashram schools and over 2,000 private and government schools, with slightly more than two lakh students, around 60 per cent of them girls.
In Parvathipuram Manyam district, collector N. Prabhakar Reddy said temperatures have fallen to around 13°C at night. The district has received 85,000 blankets for ashram school students, out of 1.15 lakh total students.
