Deadly Indian heatwave set to end
Meteorologists predicted today that monsoon rains would arrive in much of India in the next few days, bringing relief from a heatwave that has killed more than 150 people.
Half of the deaths were reported in the eastern state of Orissa, where temperatures in the Angul district touched 50C (122F), state official D N Sahu said. The area is about 100 miles west of the state capital, Bhubaneshwar.
Reports put the death toll throughout India at about 200.
Southern Andhra Pradesh state reported 35 deaths last month, said Sree Naresh, a state official handling disaster management.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported 30 deaths in northern Uttar Pradesh state and 10 in West Bengal state, where temperatures shot up to 47C (117 F).
At least three people died from heat stroke in eastern Bihar state, said A K Biswas, the home secretary. However, PTI put the death toll there at 21.
Most of the dead were elderly people, small children and the poor, who often lack proper shelter and adequate drinking water, officials said. The sweltering heat has been worsened by power cuts that disable fans and water pumps.
Seventy-five people have died of sunstroke in Orissa state since last month - 20 in the past three days – Sahu said.
The government-run India Meteorological Department said the severe heatwave conditions over Orissa and coastal Andhra Pradesh are likely to subside during the next two days.
The monsoon is likely to advance further into western Maharashtra state, eastern Orissa state, the rest of peninsular India, southern parts of Chattisgarh and the remaining parts of West Bengal this week, it said.
India’s monsoon season usually lasts until the end of September.
