By Daniel Itai
Over 100 people have lost their lives in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, and Odisha due to an ongoing intense heatwave.
As many as 57 people admitted to the Ballia district hospital in UP died in the last four days due to the intense heat.
In Bihar, where 42 deaths were reported in the past two days, 35 occurred at two hospitals in Patna, where over 200 patients suffering from diarrhea and vomiting were being treated.
“As per hospital records, 54 deaths (23 on June 15, 20 on June 16, and 11 on June 17) were reported. Broadly, 60 percent of the deaths were linked to other diseases, while fever was the cause of admission in 40 percent,” said UP Infectious Diseases Director Dr. A K Singh.
In addition, Dr. S K Yadav, the Chief Medical Superintendent of Ballia district hospital, stated that the majority of those who died were elderly.
“The majority of the patients died in the geriatric age group, and the cause of death included high fever, diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, and chronic ailments, but the possibility of loo (heatwave) being the cause of those dying of fever cannot be ruled out,” said Dr. Yadav.
UP’s Health Minister, Brijesh Pathak, has since opened an investigation into the high number of deaths in the state.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the heatwave is likely to continue in Bihar and UP for the next two days.
India typically experiences its hottest annual temperatures in the summer months of April, May, and June before the monsoon season reduces the heat. However, the past decade has seen the country grapple with unusually intense, rising heat, which often leads to water shortages in the country.