India’s Heat Wave Death Toll Rises To 850 People In 2 States

The number of Indians who have died as a result of the blistering heat wave has more than doubled in the two Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to 850 from just over 400 two days ago. Indians lament the lack of a relief plan by the central and state governments about the situation.

First Post reports that in Andhra Pradesh alone, the heat wave claimed 202 victims in the Prakasam district, 130 in Guntur, 112 in Visakhapatnam, 78 in Vizianagaram and 74 in Nellore, according to Special Commissioner for Disaster Management Tulsi Rani.

Daytime temperature in India is soaring at 48 degrees Celsius or 118 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the death of more people as an intense heat wave burns the Asian giant. Meanwhile, Telangana recorded 186 heat-related deaths since middle of April as the state logged 118 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, reports Time.

According to BR Meena, a senior Telangana official, most of the victims were old people who were working and exposed to the extreme temperature. Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister KE Krishna said that seniors, labourers, beggars and street dwellers are the ones badly affected by the heat wave. With India’s weather bureaus forecasting that the heatwave conditions would last for more days, the death toll is expected to rise further.

First Post notes that the only measure made by relief officials is to provide the number of people who have died because of heat stroke. It pointed out that the National Disaster Management Authority only offers some dos and don’ts and recommended in 2013 to include heat wave as a natural disaster. State governments, meanwhile, only offer reminders through media for residents to avoid being out in the sun from 11 am to 4 pm, to drink water and not wear dark clothes.

Andhra Pradesh is particularly vulnerable to heat wave, attributed by many groups to climate change. In 2002-2003, about 3,000 people from the state died due to the heatwave.

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