Jun 03, 2024 1:22 PM
India has recorded nearly 25,000 suspected cases of heat stroke and 56 deaths due to an intense heat wave that affected the country from March to May, according to government data cited by local media. The month of May was particularly severe, with temperatures in Delhi and Rajasthan reaching a scorching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).
While northern and central India grappled with extreme heat, eastern India faced the impact of Cyclone Remal, leading to heavy rainfall and 14 deaths in Assam since Tuesday. In a neighboring crisis, Sri Lanka experienced severe flooding and landslides due to heavy monsoon rains, resulting in at least 15 fatalities, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
The extreme weather events in South Asia, including the heatwave, are attributed to human-driven climate change, which has exacerbated the region’s hot summer conditions. On Friday, at least 33 people, including election officials involved in the recently concluded general election, succumbed to suspected heatstroke in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. The central state of Madhya Pradesh reported over 5,000 cases of heatstroke alone.
Relief may be on the horizon, as the weather office predicts less severe heatwave conditions until Wednesday. Additionally, the early arrival of the monsoon in Kerala last week is expected to bring further respite.
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