More than 400 deaths have been reported due to an ongoing heat wave across the Indian sub-continent, and the heat wave has been forecasted to continue for a few more days by the meteorological department. The majority of deaths (368) have taken place in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, according to Livemint.
The nation's capital of Delhi registered a record high of 44.5C this season and temperatures have stayed close to 43C over the last couple of days, NDTV reports.
Andhra Pradesh reported 87 deaths since Saturday, taking the total death toll to 182 from May 18 , according to the BBC. The Prakasam district, located in the coastal Andhra region, is where the most deaths took place - 57 - according to disaster management authorities of the state. In Telangana, 186 lives were lost across 10 districts, out of which 58 deaths have been reported since Saturday.
"Almost all of the victims are old. Inquiries reveal that most of them were working and were exposed to the heat. Dehydration and heat stroke caused the deaths," B.R. Meena, Telangana revenue secretary, said in a statement to The Indian Express.
"Certain preventive measures have been taken," said C. Laxman Reddy, health minister of Telangana. "The temperature had been very high for the last four to five days."
The meteorological department in conjunction with the health department has asked people to take all necessary precautions in order to protect themselves from sun strokes. People have also been advised to stay indoors and to go out only with protective clothing and only if necessary.
