Death toll from India heatwave surpasses 2,000
The death toll from a blistering heatwave sweeping India has exceeded 2,000 people, officials
More than 200 people have died since Friday noon, bringing the total death toll in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to 1,979, disaster management officials said on Saturday.
According to local media, 62 people also died in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi states.
Most of the casualties were reported from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which have experienced their highest sustained summer temperatures in 12 years over the past week. According to weather officials, the sweltering temperatures are expected to persist for the next two days.
A total of 1,490 deaths were reported from the Andhra Pradesh alone. Most of the victims were construction workers, laborers and homeless people who were unable to find shelter from the hot weather.
“The meteorology department has given a warning of high temperatures for two more days. There should be some relief as we can expect some rains by Monday,” Telangana disaster management official Sadabahar Kavi said on Saturday.
India has urged doctors at government-run hospitals not to go on leave. People have also been told to stay indoors during the peak afternoon hours across the worst affected areas.
The blistering weather conditions are expected to continue in India unless the monsoon rain finally arrives. The monsoon rains were expected to hit the southern coast of Kerala state by June 1.
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