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Many die in northern India as heat wave hits region
According to the Times of India newspaper, at least 54 people have tragically lost their lives in a district of Uttar Pradesh,
According to the Times of India newspaper, at least 54 people have tragically lost their lives in a district of Uttar Pradesh, a northern state in India, over the past few days. Local authorities are investigating whether these deaths were a result of the ongoing heat wave in the region.
Additionally, reports from neighboring Bihar state indicate that another 45 individuals have sadly succumbed to the heat wave. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had previously issued a red alert warning for extreme heat in certain areas, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The government is actively looking into the cause of these fatalities, which occurred over a span of three days last week in the Ballia district, situated about 970 km (600 miles) southeast of New Delhi. Ravindra Kumar, the district’s top administrative official, stated that while deaths did occur, it is challenging to definitively attribute them solely to the heat wave. He mentioned that some deaths were due to old age or other factors, and there is currently no solid evidence linking them to the heat wave.
Diwakar Singh, the chief medical officer at the primary state hospital in Ballia, was dismissed by the government for asserting that the deaths were a result of the heat. The state’s deputy chief minister, Brajesh Pathak, publicly announced Singh’s removal from the position, citing his statement as irresponsible.
In Ballia, temperatures have soared to nearly 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days, exacerbating the situation amid a severe power crisis.
In Bihar, the Hindustan Times reported that 45 individuals lost their lives due to heat-related illnesses. Phone calls to officials in the capital city of Patna went unanswered.
While the heat wave is expected to persist in certain regions on Monday, parts of Assam state in northeastern India are grappling with floods triggered by heavy rains. A senior IMD official cautioned that rainfall intensity in Assam and other northeastern states is anticipated to increase this week, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall predicted in many areas, heightening the risk of flooding.