Latest investigation has revealed that at least 800 people have died in a major heatwave that has swept across India, melting roads in New Delhi as temperatures neared 50C.
Government has alerted hospitals to treat victims of heatstroke and authorities advised people to stay indoors on Tuesday, with no end in sight to the hot conditions.
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| India's Meteorological Department said it had issued heat warnings to several states where temperatures were forecast to top 45C over the next few days. |
"As of now, we don't predict any respite from the extreme heatwave for the next few days," said spokesman BP Yadav.
Hundreds of people, mainly from the poorest sections of society, die at the height of summer every year across the country, while tens of thousands suffer power cuts from an overburdened electricity grid.
The maximum temperature in the capital hit a two-year high of 45.5C on Monday [Getty Images]
Hyderabad street vendor P Gangamma said the heat was making her head pound, but she had no choice but to stay outside.
"For the past three days hot wind has been coming in," said the 65-year-old, who sells cigarettes on a busy intersection.
"I am a diabetes patient, but I have no husband and no sons, so I have to stay here and keep shop."
Heat Meltdown
Large parts of India, including the capital New Delhi, have endured days of sweltering heat, prompting fears of power cuts as energy-guzzling air conditioners work overtime.
The Hindustan Times daily which carried a frontpage photo of a main road in the city melting in the heat, with the white pedestrian crossing stripes curling and spreading into the black asphalt. - The paper also stated that the maximum temperature in the capital hit a two-year high of 45.5C on Monday - five degrees higher than the seasonal average.
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| In the western state of Orissa 11 people were confirmed to have died from the heat. |
Another 13 people have died in the eastern state of West Bengal, where unions urged drivers in the city of Kolkata to stay off the roads during the day.
India's power industry has long struggled to meet rapidly rising demand in Asia's third largest economy, with poorly maintained transmission lines and overloaded grids.
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| The Hindustan Times warned that some of the hot, dry conditions could plunge the worst-affected states into drought before monsoon rains arrive. |
The monsoon is forecast to hit the southern state of Kerala towards the end of this month before sweeping across the country, but it will be weeks before the rains reach the arid northern plains.
A labourer cools off under a water tap in Amritsar [EPA]
