Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Soaring Heat Wave Kills 15 in India Despite Ongoing Election

POSTED ON May 31, 2024 •   Breaking News      BY Benedicta Bassey
India citizens affected by heatwaves in the hospital/Photo credit: Bloomberg

Soaring Heatwave fatalities have risen across Northern and Central India with  record-breaking temperatures and severe water shortages.

Several people have reportedly died due to heat-related ailments over the past 24 hours as temperatures continued to soar in northern and central India.

Ten fatalities were recorded at the government hospital in Odisha’s Rourkela region on Friday, authorities told Reuters news agency.

Heat-stroke related deaths were also reported from the states of Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and the national capital, Delhi.

The searing heat came as India held its general election, the results of which will be declared on 4 June.

Mahendra Kumar, district magistrate of Bhojpur district in Bihar, told the Times of India newspaper that three election officers and a policeman died in the city on Thursday due to heat stroke.

“It was the hottest day, and despite having medical facilities at all centres, they collapsed. One home guard [volunteer policeman] became unconscious where he was staying,” Mr Kumar said, adding that the man died in the hospital while being treated by doctors.

He also said that around 30-40 people were admitted to the same hospital on Thursday due to heat-related ailments.

Hospitals in the region recorded a rise in admissions due to heat-related ailments.

A labourer admitted with a heat stroke died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Delhi.

India’s National Centre for Disease Control called heat strokes a “life-threatening” condition with a mortality rate of 40 to 64%.

The heat in northern, central, and parts of western India had been unrelenting for the past two weeks, with maximum temperatures hovering around 45-46°C for days at a stretch and even climbing up to 50°C in some areas.

Several regions experienced severe water and electricity shortages due to a rise in consumption. The soaring temperatures led to a surge in fires across India, and authorities employed drones to monitor forest fires in Jammu and Kashmir.

Exposure to heat also caused a loss of 167.2 billion potential labour hours among Indians in 2021, the study noted.

AFP

READ ALSO
FG signals tough stance on underdeveloped Oilfields, calls for strategic IOC investments
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Federal Government expressed its worries on Tuesday about the growing number of idle and underde...

READ ALSO
Fuel prices expect to fall below N750 by Year-End - NIPSS
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has said that with Dangote Refinery...

READ ALSO
CPPE raises concerns over proposed ban on solar panel imports amid Nigeria's energy crisis
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has raised alarms regarding the government...

READ ALSO
FG highlights need for data sharing, collaboration to tackle border crimes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

Nigeria has called for cooperation with Sahel and West African nations regarding information and dat...

READ ALSO
Fuel price crisis looms as Naira-for-Crude arrangement remains unresolved
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

There is growing concern in the downstream segment of the oil and gas industry as operators anticipa...

READ ALSO
HEDA seeks Judicial declaration against Shell's Oil license transfer amidst legal concerns
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Incorporated Trustees of the Human Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resou...

READ ALSO
Nigeria, Canada forge new Aviation ties with bilateral Air services agreement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - In a notable achievement for the aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation and Aero...

READ ALSO
Collaboration for Transparency: BPP, ICPC sign MOU to combat procurement fraud
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale  Adedokun, has und...

OUR CHANNELS:

FG signals tough stance on underdeveloped Oilfields, calls for strategic IOC investments
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Federal Government expressed its worries on Tuesday about the growing number of idle and underde...


OpenAI valuation hits $300 billion after SoftBank-led fund
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Japanese telecommunications company, alongside a group of investors, has recently announced yet...


Fuel prices expect to fall below N750 by Year-End - NIPSS
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has said that with Dangote Refinery...


Nigeria imposes N20m fine, 10-Year Jail Term for Ponzi scheme offenders
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stated that promoters and operators of Ponzi scheme...


South Korea launches second phase of educational initiative in Ekiti smart school
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

EKITI, Nigeria - The South Korean government is poised to initiate the second phase of its education...


NFF denies resignation rumors surrounding Super Eagles coach
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has refuted claims that Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is cons...


CPPE raises concerns over proposed ban on solar panel imports amid Nigeria's energy crisis
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has raised alarms regarding the government...


Kano praises Emir Sanusi II’s leadership qualities in reinstatement ceremony
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

KANO, Nigeria - Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has stated that his government reinstated Khalifa Muhammad...


CBN's strategic policies lead to significant increase in Nigeria's Net FX reserves
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

Nigeria's net foreign exchange reserves (NFER) stood at $23.11 billion at the conclusion of the prev...


Adeyeye urges capital punishment for drug traffickers amidst N1trn confiscation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The ongoing fight against counterfeit and substandard medical products by the National Agency for Fo...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu