March 29, 2024
Incessant Indian heat wave leaves 1,800 dead
NEW DELHI, India--As the death toll in a relentless, weeks-long heat wave in India climbed to more than 1,800 on Friday, officials raced to contain the danger, pleading in vain for residents to stay inside.

But many aren't listening to the warnings, even as temperatures have topped 110 degrees throughout the country since mid-May.

"Either we have to work in fields for food or we stay at home, both ways, we may suffer death," said Ram Ranjan, 42. The poor farmer lives in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, one of the hardest hit areas along with Telangana state. Together, the two regions account for more than 1,000 of the deaths.

More than 29% of the Indian population lives below the poverty line, and the majority are daily wage labors, according to the government figures. Because of that many are working outside in the extreme heat despite the risks.

States in northern India, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, are also dealing with extreme temperatures. In New Delhi, temperatures of 111 degrees are melting asphalt that's distorting painted pedestrian crosswalks.

The heat wave is now the fifth-deadliest in recorded world history and the second-deadliest in India's history, according to EM-DAT, the International Disaster Database. Authorities said the majority of the dead are labors working outside on farms and construction sites, or are elderly.

"Even contractors are refraining from assigning any work to us," said Krishna Kumar, 35, a construction worker in Uttar Pradesh. "They are waiting for weather to cool down. Either way, we are out of choices."

Rivers, pools and lakes are full of residents trying to beat the heat. Volunteers are handing out water, and people are sleeping outside because of the lack of electricity, sometimes on roofs, sometimes on the street. (Source: USA Today)
Story Date: May 31, 2015
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