Over the past three days, more than 50 people have died in India as an intense heatwave continues to affect parts of the country.
In Uttar Pradesh alone, approximately 33 people, including polling officials and security personnel involved in the general election, succumbed to the extreme heat over the weekend.
Odisha (Orissa) state reported around 20 deaths attributed to heat stroke.
The general election, which takes place every five years during the hot months of April and May, coincided with record-breaking temperatures this year.
India has been experiencing more frequent, severe, and prolonged heatwaves. Hospitals across the country have established special units to handle heat-related illnesses.
From March 1 to May 30, the federal health ministry confirmed at least 56 deaths due to heat stroke and reported about 24,849 heatstroke cases.
However, state figures suggest the actual number of deaths might be higher.
In Odisha, district authorities noted 99 suspected heat stroke deaths in the past 72 hours, with 20 cases confirmed by the state’s Special Relief Commissioner.
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa announced that the families of deceased election workers would receive monetary compensation of 1.5 million rupees ($18,000; £14,000).
Rinwa also mentioned that a man fainted while standing in line to vote due to the heat.
“The voter was transported to a health facility, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” he said.
Suspected heat-related deaths have also been reported from the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
India’s National Centre for Disease Control calls heat strokes a “life-threatening” condition with a mortality rate of 40–64%.
The heat in northern and central India and parts of the west has been unrelenting for the past two weeks, with maximum temperatures hovering around 45–46 °C for days at a stretch and even climbing up to 50 °C in some areas.
However, India’s weather department says that temperatures are likely to fall in the coming days due to the onset on the monsoon.
Several regions are experiencing severe water and electricity shortages due to a rise in power consumption.
Videos from the capital, Delhi, show people jostling for water from water tankers.
Many parts of the capital are also experiencing frequent power cuts.