KATHMANDU: At least 15 people have died of suspected heatstroke in India's eastern states of Bihar and Odisha on Thursday amid a severe heatwave expected to persist until Saturday. The region is experiencing extreme temperatures, with a part of Delhi recording the highest ever temperature in India at 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22°F) this week. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is reviewing this reading due to potential sensor issues. While temperatures in northwestern and central India are forecasted to drop, eastern India is expected to continue suffering from the heatwave, which is defined by the IMD as temperatures 4.5 C to 6.4 C higher than normal.
In Odisha's Rourkela region, ten deaths were reported at a government hospital on Thursday, while Bihar's Aurangabad city reported five deaths due to "sunstroke." Additionally, Aurangabad District Collector Shrikant Shastree mentioned that seven more people died on their way to the hospital, with the exact causes pending autopsy results. The Odisha government has banned outdoor activities for its employees during peak heat hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In neighboring Jharkhand state, local media reported three more suspected heatstroke deaths.
Delhi is also grappling with high temperatures, leading to birds and wild monkeys fainting or falling ill. The city zoo has implemented measures like pools and sprinklers to help its 1,200 animals cope with the heat, alongside a special summer diet. The capital, which is expected to reach 43 C on Friday, recorded its first heat-related death this week and is facing a severe water shortage. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Remal has inundated parts of northeastern India, including Manipur and Assam, and monsoon rains arrived in Kerala state two days earlier than expected. The heatwave and erratic weather patterns are part of a broader trend of increasing temperatures exacerbated by climate change, with India being the world's third-biggest greenhouse gas emitter, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070.
