In the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, at least 34 people have died in the last two days due to a heatwave, the Associated Press reports.
"All of them were suffering from various diseases and their condition worsened due to abnormal heat," - said Jayant Kumar, chief medical officer of Ballia district.
All of the deceased were over 60 years old. Local doctors advise people of this age to stay at home during the day.
Based on data from the India Meteorological Department, Ballia experienced an exceptionally high temperature of 42.2°C (108°F) on Friday, surpassing the normal temperature by 4.7°C (8°F).
The intense heat of the summer has led to power outages throughout the state, leaving people without access to water, fans, or air conditioners, prompting protests. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured the public that the government is taking necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply and urged citizens to use electricity responsibly.
Traditionally, the months of April, May, and June are hot across India before the arrival of monsoon rains. However, temperatures have been increasingly extreme in the past decade. Heatwaves in the country are often accompanied by severe water shortages, impacting tens of millions of people.
A study conducted by the World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines extreme weather events, found that climate change made a severe heatwave in April, affecting parts of South Asia, at least 30 times more likely. In April, the heatwave resulted in 13 fatalities at a government event in Mumbai and led some states to close schools for a week.
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