March 19, 2025 | 13:03 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Sunday- 18:49, 18/06/2023

India's northern state swelters in extreme heat, doctors advise people over 60 to stay indoors

(VAN) At least 34 people have died in the past two days as a large swath of the north Indian state Uttar Pradesh swelters under severe heat, officials said on Saturday (Jun 17)
People crowd the registration counter at Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India on Jun 23, 2022. Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh

People crowd the registration counter at Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India on Jun 23, 2022. Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh

At least 34 people have died in the past two days as a large swath of the north Indian state Uttar Pradesh swelters under severe heat, officials said on Saturday (Jun 17), prompting doctors to advise citizens over 60 to stay indoors during the daytime.

The dead were all over 60 and had pre-existing health conditions that may have been exacerbated by the intense heat. The fatalities occurred in Ballia district, about 200km southeast of Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Twenty-three deaths were reported on Thursday and another 11 died on Friday, Ballia’s Chief Medical Officer Jayant Kumar said.

“All the individuals were suffering from some ailments and their conditions worsened due to the extreme heat,” Kumar told The Associated Press on Saturday. He said most of the deaths were because of heart attack, brain stroke and diarrhoea.

Diwakar Singh, another medical officer, said these people were admitted to Ballia’s main hospital in critical condition. “Elderly people are vulnerable to extreme heat too,” he said.

India Meteorological Department data shows Ballia reported a maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius on Friday, which is 4.7 degrees Celsius above normal.

The scorching summer has sparked power outages across the state, leaving people with no running water, fans, or air conditioners. Many have staged protests.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured the public that the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure an uninterrupted power supply in the state. He urged citizens to cooperate with the government and use electricity judiciously.

“Every village and every city should receive adequate power supply during this scorching heat. If any faults occur, they should be promptly addressed,” he said on Friday night in a statement.

The main summer months — April, May and June — are generally hot in most parts of India before monsoon rains bring cooler temperatures. But temperatures have become more intense in the past decade. During heat waves, the country usually also suffers severe water shortages, with tens of millions of its 1.4 billion people lacking running water.

A study by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines the source of extreme heat, found that a searing heat wave in April that struck parts of South Asia was made at least 30 times more likely by climate change.

In April, the heat caused 13 people to die at a government event in India’s financial capital of Mumbai and prompted some states to close all schools for a week.

HD

(AP)

Indonesia's cocoa farmers work with businesses to fight the bitter impact of climate change

Indonesia's cocoa farmers work with businesses to fight the bitter impact of climate change

(VAN) The loud whirr of a chainsaw sounds through the forest as a small group of farmers gathers around a tree filled with red seed pods. With one slow stroke, a severed knobby branch hits the ground.

Advancing sorghum science: A drought-resilient crop for agriculture's future

Advancing sorghum science: A drought-resilient crop for agriculture's future

(VAN) The importance of this cereal lies in its role in the future of human and animal nutrition, providing a sustainable alternative for areas facing water scarcity.

Bird flu outbreaks in Europe disrupt Russian hatching egg imports

Bird flu outbreaks in Europe disrupt Russian hatching egg imports

(VAN) Russian poultry farmers are complaining of a lack of hatching eggs as a result of the recent bird flu outbreaks in Europe which have disrupted supplies. Some hopes are pinned on the growth in production of the local Smena-9 crossbreed.

Are socially distanced chickens laying more affordable eggs?

Are socially distanced chickens laying more affordable eggs?

(VAN) Shoppers used to picking up the cheapest eggs at the grocery store may now be reaching for higher-end cartons.

‘Bear with me,’ Trump says as both farmers and consumers brace for tariff effects

‘Bear with me,’ Trump says as both farmers and consumers brace for tariff effects

(VAN) Corn and soybean prices for this year’s harvest already fell roughly 10% since the tariffs were first announced a couple of weeks ago.

Are GMOs bad for your health? Here’s what the science says

Are GMOs bad for your health? Here’s what the science says

(VAN) There’s nothing inherently unsafe about genetically modified foods. It’s the potential herbicide exposure that should give you pause.

China's all-round efforts to drive agricultural development

China's all-round efforts to drive agricultural development

(VAN) China will focus on increasing per-unit yields of grain by expanding projects aimed at improving these yields and intensifying the promotion of high-yield and efficient production models.

Read more