The incident occurred in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where local authorities had warned residents over 60 and those with underlying health conditions to stay indoors during the day.
Indians seek to cool down from record heat. Photo: ADG
54 of the deaths in Uttar Pradesh were reported in Ballia district, about 300 km from Lucknow, the state capital. Authorities found that most of the deceased were above 60 years of age and had underlying health conditions.
SK Yadav, a health official in Ballia, said that in the past three days, around 300 patients have been admitted to the district hospital due to heatstroke.
Due to the serious situation, the authorities have provided additional beds in the emergency ward to accommodate the growing number of patients.
Officials said most of the hospitalized patients were 60 years old or older, with symptoms of high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and heart-related problems.
Ballia, along with other areas in central and eastern Uttar Pradesh, is currently battling sweltering heat.
On Sunday, the area recorded a maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, 5 degrees Celsius higher than normal. Humidity was recorded at 25%, increasing the impact of the heat.
Temperatures across the state are currently above normal, said Atul Kumar Singh, a scientist with the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD has issued an alert saying the heatwave situation will persist till June 19 in parts of Uttar Pradesh.
The state's health minister, Brijesh Pathak, said an investigation had been launched into the deaths of "so many people" in Ballia.
In eastern Bihar, a scorching heat wave has gripped much of the state, killing 42 people in the past two days, including 35 at two hospitals in the state capital Patna, where more than 200 patients were being treated for diarrhoea and vomiting.
Trung Kien (according to AP)
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