Heat wave kills 430 in India

A heat wave in southern India has killed at least 430 people over the last two weeks, a relief official said today.

DC Roshaiah, chief of relief operations in Andhra Pradesh state, warned that the death toll could go up.

Most of the fatalities have been caused by dehydration and sunstroke caused by the high temperatures and shortages of drinking water.

Roshaiah said hundreds of people were bring treated at hospitals across the state, which has seen temperatures as high as 47C (116.60F).

Seven out of the state’s 23 districts accounted for most of the deaths.

The highest toll, 85, was reported by the coastal district of East Godavari, where temperatures touched 47.5C (117.50F) last week.