Jun 17, 2023, 5:00 PM

At least 34 dead as northern India swelters under heatwave

At least 34 dead as northern India swelters under heatwave

TEHRAN, Jun. 17 (MNA) – At least 34 people have died in the past two days as a large swath of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh swelters under severe heat, officials said on Saturday.

The dead were all aged over 60 and had pre-existing health conditions that may have been exacerbated by the intense heat, Al Jazeera reported. 

The fatalities occurred in Ballia district, some 300km (200 miles) southeast of Lucknow, the state capital.

Twenty-three deaths were reported on Thursday and another 11 died on Friday, Ballia’s Chief Medical Officer Jayant Kumar said.

“All the individuals were suffering from some ailments and their conditions worsened due to the extreme heat,” Kumar added. 

He said most of the deaths were because of heart attacks, brain strokes and diarrhoea.

Diwakar Singh, another medical officer, said the people were admitted to Ballia’s main hospital in critical condition.

“Elderly people are vulnerable to extreme heat too,” he said.

India Meteorological Department data shows Ballia reported a maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, which is 4.7C (8F) above normal.

The scorching summer has caused power outages across the state, leaving people with no running water, fans or air conditioners. Many have staged protests.

The main summer months – April, May and June – are generally hot in most parts of India before monsoon rains bring cooler temperatures. But temperatures have become more intense in the past decade.

SKH/PR

News ID 202092

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