Heatwave claims 167 lives in India.

 As many as 167 people have died reportedly due to sunstroke in Telangana since April 1 as the state continues to reel under blistering heatwave, a senior official of the state disaster management said here today.

However, these casualties are yet to be recognised as 'heatwave deaths'.

Three-member government committees, consisting of a tehsildar, a police sub-inspector and a civil surgeon, in each mandal (administrative unit) will have to confirm that these deaths were due to heatwave.

"These (167) deaths (till date) should be confirmed by the committees as heatwave deaths. Then only it can be recognised as heatwave deaths and financial assistance will be sanctioned accordingly.

"All the deaths are currently under scrutiny. No death has been confirmed as a heatwave death as yet," the official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

Telangana has been experiencing severe heatwave for the past few days with temperatures crossing the 40 degree-mark in most of the places.