The death toll Indian summer temperatures translucent 2.000 people

The death toll is mostly poor or homeless people who received little protection from the heat. (Sugam Pokharel/CNN)

Delhi - The death toll from hot weather in India continues to climb and has now reached more than 2.000 people. The death toll is mostly poor or homeless people who received little protection from the heat.


Channel NewsAsia reported, EM-DAT, disaster statistics agency India Saturday said the death toll had reached 2.005 people. It is the death toll from the second largest heat in India after a similar disaster in 1998 claimed the lives of up to 2.541 people.

The highest toll in the heat wave this year falls in the state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, reaching 1.979 people. A total of 17 people died in Orissa, eastern India, while nine people were killed in various other places in India.

Yesterday, the air temperature in the country reached 45 degrees Celsius. Indian weather forecasting agency predicted warmer temperatures will still happen in the next week.

Most victims are poor, homeless and construction workers who are dehydrated. Rain is expected to fall in Kerala this week, but other parts of India still have to wait a few weeks until the rainy season arrives.

Officials in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana campaigns and outreach to the residents to escape the heat. The Telangana, the local government issued a pamphlet urged people to avoid outdoor activity and drink plenty of water.