This is the second deadliest heat wave known by the country and the fifth on the whole planet. Every summer, hundreds of people, especially the poorest, die because of the heat in India, but the 2015 balance sheet is particularly heavy.
The states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the south of the country, are by far the most affected by the heat wave and identify alone 1979 deaths. 17 people died in Orissa, eastern and nine other hand, bringing the total deaths in 2005.
In 1998, 2,451 people died in the deadliest heat wave in the country's history.
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the government launched public education campaigns to the most vulnerable and help them cope with the heat.
In Telangana, the authorities have distributed leaflets and use local media to invite people to drink lots of water and avoid going outside, said the head of the disaster management of the state, B.R. Meena.
According to him, 489 people died in the state. "There was a small decline in the heat but we travel the roads to explain to people how to protect themselves", he told AFP.
However, the authorities believe that the balance sheet should no longer increase. "The deaths will really slow in the coming days", said a senior official of Andhra Pradesh, where 1,490 people died.
"The situation isn't alarming at present. The heat has decreased and we are seeing fewer new heat stroke patients arrive", said to AFP J.V. Subbarao, doctor at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences.
Saturday, maximum temperatures were around 45 degrees Celsius. According to meteorologists, this heat wave could continue next week in several states. The salvation could come from the monsoon, expected in June.
Source : L'Express
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