Sweltering heat kills over 120 in northern Indian state: Report

NEW DELHI

At least 121 people have died in two cities in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in recent days from heat stroke and other conditions brought on by intense hot weather, local media reported on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath directed hospitals to remain alert and provide the best possible treatment to patients following a meeting on Monday about the current heat wave and the reported deaths of 54 people in Ballia district in three days, according to local daily Dainik Bhaskar.

With 14 more patients dying from heat-related ailments in the last 24 hours, fatalities due to heat wave in Ballia district have mounted to 68 since June 15, the daily Business Standard reported.

However, officials are refusing to confirm the deaths caused by the heat wave. Director of Health Dr. AK Singh, who is heading a three-member health team, traveled to Ballia on Sunday from the state capital of Lucknow but avoided responding to reporters' questions about the number of deaths by saying the real causes of deaths were under investigation.

After seeing medical reports, Dr. Singh said he will be better able to explain the causes of the death, according to daily Dainik Bhaskar.

Fifty-three fatalities have been reported in the Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh over the past two days, according to another daily, Prabhat Khabar. It added that Deoria Medical College received at least 35 dead people, and 18 more passed away after being admitted to the district’s main hospital.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Jha, the chief medical officer of Deoria Medical College, told the daily that the majority of those who passed away were elderly and suffering from issues like high fever, fainting, breathing difficulties, and body stiffness.

When contacted by Anadolu on the phone, Dr. Jha declined to comment on the number of deaths attributed to the heat wave.

In the past few days, many Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have been witnessing severe heat waves with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas.

Last week, 44 people died in the eastern state of Bihar due to hot weather conditions.

Heat wave conditions are expected to persist in some Indian states for several more days, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.