INDIA: Heat wave death toll nears 600 mark

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

NEW DELHI, May 30 2003 (IPS) - At least 592 people have died due to a severe heat wave still gripping various parts of India as weather officials Friday held out no immediate hope of respite.

The southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has borne the brunt of the sun’s fury with 576 deaths.

The United News of India (UNI) quoted state officials as saying the Nalgonda district was hardest hit with 115 deaths, followed by East Godavari with 85, West Godavari with 73, Prakash with 59, Karimnagar 52, Guntur 46, Krishna 44, Nellore 30, Warangal 16, and Chittoor 12. Forty more deaths were reported from other districts.

The state weather office said the mercury soared above 47 degrees Celsius in many areas. Officials said the heat wave conditions were expected to continue for at least a couple of days more.

Six deaths were reported in the eastern state of West Bengal, while three people died in Birbhum, as well as one each in Bagmundi, Baharampore and Chakdah.

Residents in the West Bengal capital Calcutta were warned that conditions were expected to continue for the next few days as the usual monsoon rains arriving in early June were likely to be delayed.

There were five deaths in northern Uttar Pradesh and one in eastern Orissa.

The UNI reported the actual overall death toll could be as high as 630 because the official toll covers only cases brought to government hospitals.