NEW DELHI, June 1 – A heatwave in India has killed many people, including eight officials on election duty in the eastern state of Bihar, in the past two days as soaring temperatures continue to cause misery in various parts of the country.
At least 18 heat-related deaths were reported from Bihar in a span of 48 hours, according to local media reports on Friday.
The Bihar administration has closed all schools until June 8.
There were reports on Thursday of children and teachers fainting in classrooms.
The maximum temperature in several locations in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh has been reported close to 50 degrees Celsius in recent days while dozens of cities and towns have experienced heat in excess of 46 degrees Celsius.
At least five people have died in the desert state of Rajasthan due to heat-related causes.
The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday said the heatwave should be declared a “national calamity”.
In Delhi, water shortages have been reported while the scorching heat continues to affect daily life in the national capital.
The heatwave is afflicting pain on birds and animals as well.
The Supreme Court has placed water pots and grain for birds and small animals on its sprawling premises in Delhi.
“The birds and squirrels are suffering due to the heat. This arrangement has made it clear that the Supreme Court takes care of humans, as well as other creatures,” a senior court official told the Hindustan Times newspaper.
As the intense heat is troubling the northwestern, eastern and central regions, torrential rains and flooding have killed and displaced many people in the northeastern region as well as the southern state of Kerala this week.
At least six people have died and 200,000 are stranded in floodwaters in several districts in Assam state due to the rains that followed tropical cyclone Remal.
The cyclone hit Bangladesh and India’s coastal areas at the start of the week.
In Mizoram state’s Aizawl district, the death toll in Tuesday’s landslide rose to 28 after the recovery of one more body on Thursday.
In the adjoining state of Manipur, three rain-related deaths have been reported and thousands have been rescued from the flooded areas.
