New Delhi: India is grappling with a devastating heatwave that has claimed the lives of at least 96 people over the past few days. The northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been particularly hard-hit, with authorities urging vulnerable individuals, including those over 60 and with pre-existing health conditions, to remain indoors during the daytime.
In Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district, 54 deaths were reported, though the authority ruled out the effect of the heatwave, which has hit the UP in the last few days, amid rising mercury.
Most of the victims were elderly individuals with pre-existing health conditions that were exacerbated by the intense heat. The district hospital witnessed a sudden influx of patients, with over 300 people seeking medical attention for various heat-related ailments in just three days. To cope with the rising number of cases, medical personnel were denied leave, and additional beds were arranged in the emergency ward.
Roads and markets remained deserted as people feared venturing outside. The district experienced temperatures reaching a scorching 43°C (109°F), surpassing the normal range by 5°C. The India Meteorological Department warned that the heatwave conditions were likely to persist in parts of Uttar Pradesh for at least the next 24 hours.
In eastern Bihar, the situation was equally dire, with 42 deaths reported in the past two days. The state capital, Patna, witnessed the highest number of fatalities, with 35 deaths occurring in two hospitals. Over 200 patients, suffering from symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting, were being treated for heat-related illnesses. Patna recorded a sweltering maximum temperature of 44.7°C (113°F) on Saturday.
Heatwaves have become increasingly severe in India over the past decade, and the summer months of April, May, and June are known for their scorching temperatures. The World Weather Attribution, an academic group studying extreme weather events, revealed that a heatwave in April was at least 30 times more likely due to climate change. India's population of 1.4 billion people often faces severe water shortages during such extreme weather events.