New Delhi, June 4, 2024 – A relentless heat wave sweeping across India has resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in recent weeks, with temperatures soaring above 49 degrees Celsius (120.2°F) in several cities.
The eastern state of Odisha has been particularly hard hit, with the state’s emergency center confirming 30 fatalities as of Monday evening. In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, 33 officials succumbed to the extreme heat while on duty during the last phase of the general elections last week.
New Delhi experienced a record-high temperature of 52.9°C (127.2°F) last week, though weather officials later identified this reading as erroneous. Nevertheless, the capital city reported its first heat-related death last week.
In the eastern state of Bihar, six recent deaths in Aurangabad city have been attributed to the heat wave, according to local officials. Meanwhile, in the western state of Rajasthan, nearly 12 people have died due to the extreme heat, as reported by Rakesh Kumar Meena, a disaster management official.
Local media sources revealed that between March 1 and May 30, India witnessed 24,849 suspected heat stroke cases and 56 confirmed fatalities related to heat-related illnesses. The National Centre for Disease Control data, cited by The Print, indicates that May was the deadliest month, with 46 heat-related deaths.
May is traditionally the hottest month in India, exacerbating the impact of the ongoing heat wave.–News Desk