At least 15 people in the eastern Indian states of Bihar and Odisha died on Thursday from what appears to have been heatstroke.
According to authorities, the region was experiencing a crippling heatwave that was predicted to last till Saturday.
India has been having an unbearably hot summer.
This week, a portion of the nation’s capital, Delhi, recorded the highest temperature the country has ever seen, at 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22 degrees Fahrenheit).
However, the weather department may need to check the station’s sensors before confirming the reading.
Ten deaths were reported at the government hospital in the Rourkela region of Odisha on Thursday, officials told Reuters.
An additional five deaths were reported as a result of “sunstroke” in the city of Aurangabad in Bihar.
“About seven more people died on their way to the hospital yesterday but the exact cause of their death will be known after the autopsy, “Aurangabad District Collector Shrikant Shastree said.
Following the incident, the Odisha government has made it illegal for its workers to be outside during the hottest part of the day, which is from 11 AM to 3 PM.
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According to the local media, three more people in Jharkhand state, which borders Bihar, died from what seemed to be heatstroke.
In Delhi, the city zoo is relying on pools and sprinklers to bring relief to its 1,200 occupants which were fainting or falling sick due to the soaring temperatures.
Several factors have contributed to the record-high temperatures in India this season.
A normal rise in temperatures during May and June is usually controlled by periodic western disturbances.
These weather systems bring moisture-laden winds from the Mediterranean Sea, which help neutralize the hot, dry air from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
This year, however, there were more western disturbances than usual between March and early May, but their strength diminished over the last two weeks leaving the hot air unchecked and causing temperatures to soar.
The number of heatwave days recorded in northwestern and eastern India this season has more than doubled the normal rate.
Eastern India experienced its hottest April on record, and Delhi recorded the highest ever temperature at 52.9 degrees Celsius, though this figure is under review for accuracy.
Several regions have touched new highs, including 49.9 degrees Celsius recorded in parts of Delhi and 47.5 degrees Celsius in Rohtak, Haryana.
The highest temperatures ever recorded in the world have been a subject of interest and concern in recent years. The current official highest registered air temperature on Earth is 56.7°C (134.1°F), recorded on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley, California, United States.
This record has been validated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Guinness World Records.
However, there have been reports of higher temperatures recorded in other locations. For example, a reading of 57.8°C (136.0°F) was recorded in ʽAziziya, Libya, on September 13, 1922.
Although this record was initially recognized as the highest, it was later decertified due to concerns about the accuracy of the measurement.
Another record of 54.4°C (129.9°F) was recorded in Furnace Creek Ranch in August 2020 and July 2021, but these readings are pending validation.
In addition to these air temperature records, there have been reports of higher temperatures measured directly on the ground.
For instance, a reading of 93.9°C (201.0°F) was allegedly recorded in Furnace Creek Ranch on July 15, 1972, but this measurement is not officially recognized.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Africa is 55.0°C (131°F), recorded in Kebili, Tunisia, on July 7, 1931.
This temperature is recognized by the WMO as the highest in the continent due to the Sahara desert’s extreme heat. In Asia, the highest official temperature was recorded in Iran, reaching 54°C (129°F) in 2017.
