Heat wave in India claims 56 lives, triggers over 25,000 heat stroke cases

New Delhi, A severe heat wave has resulted in the deaths of 56 individuals across India, with more than 25,000 suspected cases of heat stroke reported from March to May, as per local media sources referencing government data.

According to Kashmir Media Service, May was an especially harsh month, with temperatures in Delhi and the neighboring state of Rajasthan soaring to 50 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, contrasting weather conditions have affected other parts of the region. Eastern India is dealing with the aftermath of Cyclone Real, and heavy rainfall in Assam has led to 14 deaths since Tuesday. In Sri Lanka, monsoon rains have caused significant flooding and landslides, resulting in at least 15 fatalities as reported by the country’s Disaster Management Centre.

The ongoing heatwave is part of a broader pattern of extreme temperatures in South Asia, exacerbated by climate change, as per scientists. Specific incidents include the deaths of 33 individuals in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha, many of whom were election officials active during the recent general elections. The National Centre of Disease Control has highlighted that May was the peak of this crisis, with 46 heat-related fatalities and 19,189 cases of suspected heat stroke. The state of Madhya Pradesh alone registered over 5,000 cases.

The situation may see some improvement as the meteorological department anticipates milder heat wave conditions and the early onset of monsoon rains in Kerala, which are expected to provide some relief.