Several people have died due to heat-related ailments over the past 24 hours as temperatures continue to soar in northern and central India, the BBC reports.
Ten fatalities were recorded at the government hospital in Odisha’s Rourkela region on Thursday, authorities told Reuters news agency.
Heat-stroke related deaths have also been reported from the states of Bihar, Rajasthan and Jharkhand and the national capital, Delhi.
The searing heat comes as India is holding its general election, the results of which will be declared on 4 June.
The heat in northern, central and parts of western India has been unrelenting for the past two weeks, with maximum temperatures hovering around 45-46C for days at a stretch and even climbing up to 50C in some areas.
Several regions are experiencing severe water and electricity shortages due to a rise in consumption. The soaring temperatures have led to a surge in fires across India and authorities are employing drones to monitor forest fires in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the past week, capital Delhi and surrounding regions experienced record-breaking temperatures nearing 50C.
