A devastating heat wave has left over 1,100 people dead over the past month with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh bearing the brunt as a result of the searing heat since 18 May.
Asphalt Road surfaces melted in New Delhi under the glare of a scorching sun, as temperatures neared 50C forcing people indoors.
The meteorological department issued “red box” warnings for Jharkhand, Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh, hinting at high chances of dehydration, heatstroke and fatality with temperatures inching upwards of 45°C and conditions get worse by constant dry, sweltering winds.
Officials recorded seven deaths in Gujarat’s capital Ahmedabad this month with the civic body issuing an “orange alert”, indicating a prolonged heat wave, expecting temperatures to shoot up to 43 to 45°C Celsius over the next seven days.
Authorities advised people to stay indoors and consume plenty of fluids and experts warned no let-up in the heat wave would lead to large-scale power outages in several parts of north India, bringing back memories of a horrific blackout in 2012 that affected nearly 600 million people.