- Authorities reported at least 24 suspected heatstroke deaths in the eastern states of Bihar and Odisha.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a heatwave over east India will persist for two days.
- 14 deaths reported in Bihar, including 10 people involved in national elections.
During this blisteringly hot summer, a part of India's capital Delhi recorded the country’s highest-ever temperature at 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22°F) this week. However, the weather department is currently checking the sensors of the weather station that registered the reading, so the recorded temperature may be revised.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that while temperatures in northwestern and central India are expected to fall in the coming days, the prevailing heatwave over east India is likely to continue for two days. The IMD declares a heatwave when the temperature is 4.5 C to 6.4 C higher than normal.
Officials reported a total of 14 deaths in Bihar on Thursday, including 10 people involved in organizing the seven-phase national elections currently underway. Parts of Bihar are voting in the final round of polling on Saturday.
Authorities informed Reuters that the government hospital in Odisha’s Rourkela region reported the deaths of 10 people on the same day, prompting the Odisha government to advise against outdoor activities between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when temperatures peak.
Local media reported three suspected heatstroke deaths in Jharkhand state, neighboring Bihar. In Delhi, where high temperatures have been causing birds and wild monkeys to faint or fall sick, the city zoo is relying on pools and sprinklers to bring relief to its 1,200 occupants.
“We have shifted to a summer management diet, which includes a more liquid diet as well as all the seasonal fruits and vegetables which contain more water,” Sanjeet Kumar, director of the zoo, told news agency ANI.
On Friday afternoon, Delhi, where the temperature reached 45.4°C, recorded its first heat-related death this week and is facing an acute water shortage. Scientists say that human-driven climate change has worsened the trend of soaring temperatures, affecting billions of people across Asia.
As temperatures soar, India’s neighbor Pakistan has also witnessed a spike in forest fires, with temperatures reaching as high as 52.2°C last week. India, the world’s third-biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has set a target of becoming a net-zero emitter by 2070. While heat affects some parts of the country, heavy rainfall has battered the northeastern states of Manipur and Assam after Cyclone Remal, with several areas inundated on Friday.
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