The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe to very severe heat wave alert in various regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana among others.
54 people have died and around 400 hospitalised in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia District Hospital in the last three days amid soaring temperatures. The Odisha government also confirmed the first heatwave-related death in the state today.
Several Indian states have extended their summer vacations as a response to the predictions of extreme heat. Jharkhand's School Education and Literacy Department announced that schools in the state will remain closed for up to classes 8 until June 17. On the other hand, schools in Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh have also extended their summer vacation.
IMD has stated that heatwave and severe heatwave conditions will prevail in some pockets of Odisha, Vidarbha during the next four days. People living in Gangetic West Bengal, as well as Jharkhand will witness scorching heat for the next 3 days. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and East Madhya Pradesh will experience the wrath of heat waves for the next two days. Heatwave-like condition will continue in states like Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Madhya Pradesh, and Rayalaseema for the next 24 hours.
Doctors have said that though there are different reasons for the deaths, severe heat could be a factor. Hospitalisations are rising because of severe heat, they said. A severe heatwave has swept UP, with most places seeing temperatures north of 40 degrees.