India witnessed a tragic surge in the death toll this weekend due to an uncharacteristically intense heat wave sweeping across the northeastern states. Reports from Indian officials confirm that nearly 100 people lost their lives between Thursday and Sunday in two of the country’s most populous states, Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar. The Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh accounted for all 54 reported deaths, while at least 42 deaths occurred in eastern Bihar within the last two days.
In response to the scorching temperatures and high humidity levels in many states, the Indian government issued multiple severe heat advisories on Sunday. On Saturday, Odisha experienced a staggering temperature of 45.4 degrees Celsius (113.72 degrees Fahrenheit), while other states ranged between 42 and 44 degrees Celsius (107.6 and 111.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
The India Meteorological Department predicts that some states will continue to endure these extreme temperatures until Tuesday. Part of Uttar Pradesh, in particular, is expected to face heat wave conditions until June 19, according to alerts issued by the department.
IMD scientist Atul Kumar Singh stated to the AP that no respite is anticipated within the next 24 hours.
Most of the reported deaths in the Ballia District involved patients aged 60 and above, as well as individuals with preexisting health conditions, as reported by the AP. Symptoms included high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and heart-related issues.
Authorities have issued warnings for individuals aged 60 and above to stay indoors.
While there is a clear correlation between the high death toll and the extreme heat, some officials are hesitant to establish a direct causation.
Former Ballia District Hospital Chief Medical Superintendent Diwakar Singh, reportedly stated on Friday night that 34 people died from “heatstroke.” However, he was subsequently removed from his position for making careless statements without proper information, as reported by the Indian Express newspaper.
Brijesh Pathak, the health minister of Uttar Pradesh, has initiated an investigation into the excessive number of deaths in Ballia.
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