At least 16 people have died in southern India, officials said Sunday, as a severe heat wave large parts of the country, prompting official health warnings.
India frequently experiences scorching summers, but years of scientific research have shown that climate change is making heat waves longer, more frequent, and more intense.
exceeded Temperatures 45 degrees Celsius in several cities across the South Asian nation of 1.4 billion people.
Increased blood viscosity
The deaths were recorded in the southern state of Telangana, prompting Revenue Minister Pongoleti Srinivasa Reddy to call for a “state-wide alert” to protect public health.
Reddy’s office said in a statement that “the heat has reached unprecedented levels,” emphasizing the need for state officials to issue advance warnings about precautionary measures to take during heat waves.
Health experts indicate that extreme heat can lead to dehydration, which in turn causes increased blood viscosity and, in severe cases, organ failure.
The Telangana state government advised the elderly, children, and pregnant women to avoid going out during the day unless absolutely necessary.
