ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – India is facing a deadly heat wave. At least 29 people were reported dead in two states as heat reached record highs in much of the country.
Reuters report, Friday, May 31 2024, in the eastern state of Odisha, 10 people died from heatstroke in the city of Rourkela on Thursday, NDTV reported citing local hospital officials. Meanwhile, Times Now reported that 19 people died in the state of Bihar due to the recent heat wave.
The deaths are the latest casualties of India’s extreme heatwave, which has caused temperatures to soar above 50 degrees Celsius in some parts of India. The temperature hit a high of 52.9C at one of New Delhi’s observatories on Wednesday, leading to a spike in electricity demand in the national capital.
India reported maximum demand of 246 gigawatts on May 29, according to data published by Grid Controller Of India Ltd. This figure exceeds the previous highest figure of 243.3 gigawatts reached in September 2023.
The surge in electricity demand has also left some areas short of supply during the night when solar power plants are not available, although daytime demand has so far been met.
Bihar and Odisha state officials could not immediately be reached for comment. An official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not confirm the deaths but said the ministry had undertaken heat-related preventive activities.
Scorching hot temperatures have overwhelmed governments in many Indian cities and made it difficult to manage India’s massive six-week general election.
The Indian election will end with the seventh and final phase of voting on Saturday this week. The Press Trust of India reported four poll workers died due to high temperatures in the town of Arrah, in Bihar, citing a regional official. (AT Network)
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