Heat wave in India kills 52 with death toll set to rise

A SWELTERING heat wave in India’s eastern and southern parts has killed at least 52 people, as temperatures soared up to 47 degrees Celsius since summer began last month, government officials yesterday said.

The dead were mostly old people, small children and the poor, who lack proper shelter and adequate drinking water.

Gruelling heat is made worse by power cuts that shut off fans and water pumps.

Southern Andhra Pradesh state reported 28 deaths this month, with temperatures shooting to 47 degrees Celsius in the Telangana and Rayalaseema regions.

Local newspapers put the death toll at around 100.

“We are counting only those deaths which are confirmed by the local officials as caused by the heat wave,” a spokesman said.

In Orissa, on India’s tropical, southeastern coast, authorities reported 10 deaths in the past week, raising the total death toll to 24 since last month, a spokesman said.

The death toll is likely to go up, with meteorologists expecting no respite until monsoon rains hit at the end of June.