Nearly 25,000 people have suffered suspected heat stroke and 56 have died following several heatwaves that swept across India between March and May, according to government data reported by local media.
May has been particularly harsh, with temperatures in the capital Delhi and the nearby state of Rajasthan reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). In stark contrast, eastern India has been affected by cyclone Remal, with heavy rains in the northeastern state of Assam resulting in 14 deaths since Tuesday.
Cities in the southern states of Karnataka and Kerala have also experienced severe weather. India’s tech hub, Bengaluru, in Karnataka, received 111.1 millimeters of rainfall on Sunday, the highest for June since 1891. Local media footage showed vehicles and pedestrians navigating flooded streets, with fallen trees blocking roads and massive traffic jams at major intersections.
In the neighboring island nation of Sri Lanka, at least 15 people have been killed by flooding and landslides due to heavy monsoon rains, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre.
The extreme weather in South Asia this summer has been attributed to a combination of factors, with scientists noting that human-driven climate change has exacerbated the situation. At least 33 people, including election officials on duty in India’s recent general election, died of suspected heat stroke in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha on Friday alone.
Data from the National Centre for Disease Control indicated that May was the worst month, with 46 heat-related deaths and 19,189 suspected heat stroke cases reported, according to The Print. Including all suspected cases, the total number of deaths in India could be as high as 80, The Hindu reported. The central state of Madhya Pradesh alone reported over 5,000 cases of heat stroke.
The weather office has predicted a reduction in the severity of the heat until Wednesday. Additionally, the early arrival of the monsoon in the southern state of Kerala last week is expected to bring some relief.
