JAKARTA - Nearly 100 people died in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as the north and east of the country were hit by a heat wave.
At least 400 people are being treated at the district hospital at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh complaining of fever, shortness of breath, and other health complications.
Of that number, 54 died of suspected heart attacks, strokes, and diarrhea, officials said. Most of the patients are over 60 years of age and have pre-existing health conditions.
The highest temperature in the district hit 3°C on Sunday, five degrees above the normal monthly temperature range. Regarding the deaths that occurred, the government opened an investigation.
"Most of the patients who come for treatment complain first of chest pain, shortness of breath, then fever. We are conducting tests," explained Dr AK Singh who is leading the investigation, as quoted by The National News, June 20.
Meanwhile, Dr. SK Yadav, chief medical superintendent at Ballia hospital, earlier said around 300 patients were being treated at the hospital for various ailments exacerbated by the heat wave.
In the neighboring state of Bihar, sweltering heat gripped most of the region. At least 42 deaths were reported in two hospitals in the state capital Patna over the weekend.
More than 200 people suffering from diarrhea and vomiting were hospitalized. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7°C on Saturday.
Meanwhile, India's Meteorological Department predicts severe heatwave conditions for Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand states this week.
Authorities have extended summer holidays for school children in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
Experts say the heatwave is the result of a delayed rainy season. The monsoon system usually enters mainland India from the southern state of Kerala around June 1. However, this year it was delayed by a week due to Typhoon Biparjoy, causing 37 percent less rain.
"Heatwave conditions are occurring over much of eastern India, eastern Uttar Pradesh, due to delayed monsoons. It should reach eastern Uttar Pradesh, but still over northeastern India," said Mahesh Palawat, vice president of private weather forecasting agency Skymet Weather told The National.
"This year we have seen the delayed start of the monsoon due to the typhoon. Its movement is very slow. It is the longest surviving cyclone in the deep sea. Until it is over the Arabian Sea, it limits the flow of the monsoon over the Southern Peninsula," he explained.
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It is known, this country of 1.4 billion people has experienced an unprecedented heat wave in recent years.
Last year, India experienced one of its warmest summers since records began in 1901.
While the northern and eastern states wait for the rains, monsoon rains have hit the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
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