Incessant Indian heat wave leaves 1,800 dead

NEW DELHI, India — As the death toll in a relentless, weeks-long heat wave in India climbed to more than 1,800 on Friday, officials raced to contain the danger, pleading in vain for residents to stay inside.

But many aren't listening to the warnings, even as temperatures have topped 110 degrees throughout the country since mid-May.

"Either we have to work in fields for food or we stay at home — both ways, we may suffer death," said Ram Ranjan, 42. The poor farmer lives in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, one of the hardest hit areas along with Telangana state. Together, the two regions account for more than 1,000 of the deaths.

More than 29% of the Indian population lives below the poverty line, and the majority are daily wage labors, according to the government figures. Because of that many are working outside in the extreme heat despite the risks.

States in northern India — Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh — are also dealing with extreme temperatures. In New Delhi, temperatures of 111 degrees are melting asphalt that's distorting painted pedestrian crosswalks.

The heat wave is now the fifth-deadliest in recorded world history and the second-deadliest in India's history, according to EM-DAT, the International Disaster Database. Authorities said the majority of the dead are labors working outside on farms and construction sites, or are elderly.

"Even contractors are refraining from assigning any work to us," said Krishna Kumar, 35, a construction worker in Uttar Pradesh. "They are waiting for weather to cool down. Either way, we are out of choices."

Rivers, pools and lakes are full of residents trying to beat the heat. Volunteers are handing out water, and people are sleeping outside because of the lack of electricity, sometimes on roofs, sometimes on the street.

India's meteorological department said the intense heat is expected to continue over the next three days, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. It warned that residents in areas such as the eastern Indian states of Odisha and Jharkhand and coastal Andhra Pradesh are at a particularly high risk for a rise in body temperature and heat stroke, both of which can be fatal.

"We've extended the caution period for three more days as we see no relief till then," said YK Reddy, head of the weather service at its local branch in Hyderabad.

Monsoon season, which typically begins in June, could soon bring relief, but even that may not be enough this year. "The monsoon may hit coastal areas of Odisha within next two days. Then the south part of the country may see some relief," said SC Sahu, director of the Meteorological Division in Odisha.

For the rest of the country, there might not be much of a reprieve until July, India weather forecasters predict. In addition, a lack of rain is expected, even with the monsoons.

States such as Rajasthan and Gujarat are already experiencing drought-like conditions. Stockpiles of essentials such as grain are available to head off starvation, but seasonal crops such as grains and vegetables are at risk.

As the heat drags on, dehydration and heatstroke are increasingly being reported. "My friend was with me at a bookstore here, he suddenly started losing his senses and fell," said Jagjit Singhal, 25, a student in New Delhi. "I took him to the hospital where he was declared dead" from dehydration.

Similar incidents are being reported across the country, said Ajay Lekhi, head of the Delhi Medical Association. "People are reporting complaints of dehydration and dizziness," he said.

Surgeon Ashok Pradhan says that's only adding to the death toll. "Dehydration is leading to hypertension," he said. "We are seeing patients dying from hemorrhaging or heart attacks due to rise in blood pressure."

Meanwhile, power cuts have been going on for days, especially in the northern part of the country, including the capital of New Delhi. Residents reported that some areas are without power for 12 hours each day.

India's power company says an unusually high load on the grid due to air conditioners in hospitals and offices is to blame. The lack of power is only making the situation worse, residents say.

"The situation is becoming critical," said Jagriti Upadhyay of Uttar Pradesh. "We didn't expect such an intense power cut during this time."

A rise in critical levels of poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide is also being reported in the capital, said Gurfan Beg, director at System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research. "There has been increase in the ozone level due to temperature increase," he said. "The reading is the highest this year."