LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Over the past 48 hours, a significant number of people, totaling 34, have tragically lost their lives due to severe heat in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, as confirmed by officials on Saturday. This distressing situation has led medical professionals to advise individuals over the age of 60 to remain indoors during daytime hours.
Regrettably, all the deceased were above the age of 60 and had preexisting health issues that may have been exacerbated by the intense heat. These unfortunate fatalities occurred in Ballia district, situated approximately 300 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Medical Officer Jayant Kumar of Ballia reported that 23 deaths were recorded on Thursday, with an additional 11 on Friday. “All the individuals were suffering from preexisting ailments, and their conditions deteriorated due to the extreme heat,” Kumar informed The Associated Press on Saturday. He further mentioned that most of the deaths resulted from heart attacks, strokes, and cases of diarrhea.
Diwakar Singh, another medical officer, highlighted the critical condition of these individuals upon their admission to Ballia’s main hospital. “Elderly people are also susceptible to the impact of extreme heat,” he noted.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department, Ballia experienced a scorching maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, which was 4.7 degrees Celsius (8 degrees Fahrenheit) above the normal range.
The intense summer heat has resulted in widespread power outages throughout the state, depriving people of running water, fans, and air conditioners. Frustrated by the situation, many individuals have organized protests to draw attention to their plight.
In response to the crisis, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured the public that the government was undertaking all necessary measures to ensure an uninterrupted power supply across the state. He urged citizens to cooperate with the government and utilize electricity responsibly.
Adityanath emphasized the importance of providing adequate power to every village and city during this scorching heatwave. He emphasized the need for prompt resolution of any power-related issues.
Traditionally, the months of April, May, and June are known for their high temperatures in most parts of India before the arrival of the monsoon rains, which bring relief in the form of cooler temperatures. However, temperatures have become increasingly intense over the past decade. During heatwaves, the country also experiences severe water shortages, leaving tens of millions of its 1.4 billion population without access to running water.
A study conducted by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that investigates the origins of extreme weather events, revealed that climate change made a searing heatwave in April, which affected parts of South Asia, at least 30 times more likely to occur.
In April, the heatwave claimed the lives of 13 people at a government event in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, and prompted several states to close schools for a week to protect students from the extreme temperatures.