Heatwave in Northern India Claims Nearly 200 Lives in New Delhi
A devastating heatwave in northern India has resulted in the deaths of nearly 200 homeless individuals in New Delhi over the past week, according to the Centre for Holistic Development (CHD). The extreme temperatures have predominantly affected the city’s most vulnerable, with 52 bodies brought to hospitals in just the last two days, as reported by the Times of India. Sunil Kumar Aledia of CHD highlighted that most victims were impoverished individuals living in the open without protection from the severe heat.
From June 11 to June 19, government figures reveal that 192 homeless people have died due to the heat, marking an increase compared to previous years. This heatwave has compounded India’s summer woes, with the country recording over 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases and at least 110 confirmed deaths between March 1 and June 18. The prolonged high temperatures have strained resources, leading to water shortages and record power demand, prompting calls for prolonged summers to be classified as natural disasters.
In response to the crisis, the health ministry has mandated immediate attention to heatstroke patients and directed hospitals to increase bed availability. Despite a slight reprieve on Thursday, when rain brought temperatures down to 37 degrees Celsius, the weather office has forecast continued above-normal temperatures for the month, with Delhi experiencing its warmest night in over 50 years on Wednesday, at 35.2 degrees Celsius.
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