Heatwave in India claims 16 lives; elderly and pregnant women advised to stay indoors

Central News Agency, New Delhi, May 24. Following official health warnings, a heatwave continues to sweep across several regions of India. Indian officials stated today that at least 16 people have died from heatstroke in southern India so far this summer. According to AFP, while Indians are accustomed to extreme heat, years of scientific research have found that climate change is causing heatwaves to last longer, occur more frequently, and reach higher intensities. In this South Asian nation of 1.4 billion people, temperatures in many cities have recently hovered above 45 degrees Celsius. These deaths occurred in the southern state of Telangana. Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, the state's Revenue Minister, called for "statewide vigilance" to protect public health. His office stated that "the intensity of the heatwave has reached an unprecedented level" and requested officials in Telangana to issue early warnings for heatwave prevention measures. Health experts say extreme heat can lead to dehydration, thicken the blood, and in severe cases, cause organ failure. The Telangana government has advised the elderly, children, and pregnant women to avoid going out during the day unless necessary. The India Meteorological Department predicted earlier this week that many regions would experience above-normal temperatures and severe heatwave conditions. Temperatures in the capital, New Delhi, and surrounding cities have remained above 40 degrees Celsius this week, pushing electricity consumption to record highs.