At least 15 dead in eastern India within 24 hours as temperatures rise

By Jatindra Dash

BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) – At least 15 people died on Thursday, suspected of heat stroke, in the eastern Indian states of Bihar and Odisha, authorities said, as the region is hit by a severe heatwave that is expected to last until Saturday.

India is currently experiencing a scorching summer and a part of the capital Delhi this week recorded the highest temperature ever recorded in the country at 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22°F). However, this figure is subject to change as the meteorological department checks the sensors of the weather station that recorded the readings.

While northwest and central India are expected to see falling temperatures in the coming days, the heatwave in eastern India is expected to continue for two more days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The department declares a heatwave when the temperature is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius higher than normal.

Authorities told Reuters that 10 deaths were reported on Thursday at the government hospital in the Rourkela region of the Indian state of Odisha, while five deaths from “sunstroke” were reported in the city of Aurangabad in the state of Bihar.

“About seven more people died on the way to hospital yesterday, but the exact cause of death will be ascertained after the autopsy,” Aurangabad district collector Shrikant Shastree told Reuters.

The Odisha state government has banned its employees from outdoor activities between 11 am and 3 pm, when temperatures are at their peak.

Three people died, presumably from heat stroke, in the state of Jharkhand in the neighboring state of Bihar, local media reported.

In Delhi, where high temperatures are causing fainting and illness in birds and wild monkeys, the city’s zoo is relying on swimming pools and sprinkler systems to provide relief to its 1,200 residents.

“We have switched to a summer diet that includes more fluids and seasonal fruits and vegetables with higher water content,” zoo director Sanjeet Kumar told news agency ANI.

Delhi, where temperatures are expected to reach 43 degrees on Friday, saw its first heat-related death this week and is facing an acute water shortage.

Billions of people in Asia, including neighboring Pakistan, are struggling with rising temperatures – a trend that scientists say has been exacerbated by man-made climate change.

India, which is holding its national elections in a heated atmosphere, is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases but has set a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070.

While much of the country is suffering from the heat, the northeastern states of Manipur and Assam have been hit by heavy rains following Cyclone Remal, with several areas inundated on Friday.

Monsoon rains hit the coast of the southernmost state of Kerala on Thursday, two days earlier than expected.

(Additional reporting by Tora Agarwala in Guwahati; Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)