Morgues in India are reaching their maximum capacity and hospitals are struggling to cope as the death toll from a severe heatwave has risen to nearly 170 people, Euronews reported.
The scorching temperatures, reaching as high as 43.5 degrees Celsius in some areas, have caused hundreds of hospitalizations and overwhelmed the country's health system.
The northern state of Uttar Pradesh has been hit particularly hard, with 119 reported deaths from heat-related illnesses in the past few days. The neighboring state of Bihar has reported 47 fatalities. They are two of the poorest states in the country according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index report.
Local residents are facing dire conditions as the extreme heatwave persists. Jitendra Kumar Yadav, a hearse driver in Deoria town, 110 kilometers from Ballia in the state of Uttar Pradesh described the situation to the reporters.
"So many people are dying from the heat that we are not getting a minute's time to rest. On Sunday, (June 18) I carried 26 dead bodies," he said.
Many residents fear venturing outdoors after midmorning due to the oppressive heat.
The largest hospital in the Ballia district has reached its capacity and is unable to accommodate more patients. The morgue has also become full, as 54 elderly individuals, who were already suffering from various health issues, succumbed to the heatwave and died. Some families have been asked to take the bodies of their relatives home.
While northern regions of India typically experience high temperatures during the summer months, the recent heatwave has seen temperatures consistently above normal. Some areas have recorded highs of 43.5 degrees Celsius. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) declares a heatwave if temperatures are at least 4.5 degrees Celsius above normal or if they exceed 45 degrees Celsius.
Officials have been issuing heatwave warnings for several days, but the government did not ask people to prepare for the heat until June 18, when the death toll started to rise. The state health minister, Brajesh Pathak, has announced that a two-member team will investigate the cause of the large number of deaths and determine how many are directly related to the heat.
The impact of the heatwave is further compounded by power outages across the Uttar Pradesh region, leaving people without running water, fans, or air conditioners. The state's Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, has assured the public that measures are being taken to ensure an uninterrupted power supply and has urged residents to use electricity judiciously.
“Every village and every city should receive adequate power supply during this scorching heat. If any faults occur, they should be promptly addressed,” he said in a statement on June 16.
In hospitals like the one in the Ballia district, patients are suffering as air conditioners are not functioning properly due to power fluctuations. Attendants are resorting to fanning patients with books and wiping away their sweat in an attempt to keep them cool.
“All our staff have been here for three days straight and are completely overworked,” stated Dr Aditya Singh, an emergency medical officer.
Climate experts warn that heat waves will continue to occur, and it is crucial for India to be better prepared to handle their consequences.
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