Deaths rise in India as temperatures also soar in latest heat wave

A scorching heat wave swept across India’s northeast over the weekend, adding to a series of unusually hot weather spells that have reportedly caused nearly 100 deaths in just two regions since Thursday.

India’s Meteorological Department reported maximum temperatures ranging from 42 to 44 degrees Celsius (107.6 to 111.2 Fahrenheit) in at least five states on Saturday. The highest temperature recorded that day was 45.4 degrees Celsius (113.72 Fahrenheit) in the eastern state of Odisha. Even the daily minimum temperatures remained alarmingly high, leading authorities to urge vulnerable individuals to stay indoors.

The government issued more severe heat advisories on Sunday for certain northeastern regions, warning that the blazing conditions would persist until Tuesday. The Meteorological Department cautioned that there is a “very high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages.”

According to reports from local officials, at least 98 people died between Thursday and Saturday in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar due to the extreme heat. Bihar witnessed 42 deaths in the past two days, while Uttar Pradesh reported an additional 54 deaths. The impact of the heat wave has been severe in these regions.

India has been grappling with successive heat waves in recent months, including scorching temperatures in May that affected the capital, New Delhi. Climate change has exacerbated the situation, with last year witnessing record-breaking heat during the spring months. The rising temperatures are a cause for concern as about half of India’s workforce engages in outdoor labor, intensifying the adverse effects of the heat.

In response to the crisis, medical facilities in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district have increased the number of fans and portable air conditioners to accommodate more than 400 patients. The symptoms reported by most patients included fever, breathlessness, heart attacks, strokes, and diarrhea. Officials noted that the individuals who succumbed to the heat had preexisting health conditions, with a majority being over the age of 60.

However, some local officials in Ballia have attempted to downplay the connection between the deaths and the heat wave. The District Magistrate, Ravindra Kumar, claimed that there was “no solid evidence” linking the surge in deaths to the elevated temperatures. Nevertheless, the Uttar Pradesh state government has initiated an investigation into the matter and relieved the chief medical superintendent from his position.