At Least 1,300 Dead Across India As Temps Rise As High As 118F

[hatrack]

NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Hundreds of deaths caused by an extreme heat wave in India could have been prevented if authorities followed the example set by Ahmedabad which introduced measures such as cooling spaces to protect citizens from the rising mercury, climate experts said.

At least 1,300 people have died in northern and southern India over the past week, with temperatures over 46 Celsius (114 Fahrenheit) baking states such as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as well as the capital New Delhi.

Doctors' leave has been canceled to help cope with the sick flooding into hospitals and clinics, complaining of headaches, dizziness and fever. Most of the deaths have been of construction workers, homeless people and the elderly.

But with the threat of more frequent heatwaves as a result of climate change, experts say India must recognize rising temperatures as a natural disaster, just like floods or earthquakes, and have a strategy to protect vulnerable people. "The spiking temperatures underscore the need for local heat adaptation plans and early warning systems to reduce the health effects of heat stress and increase resilience in local communities to rising temperatures," said Anjali Jaiswal from the U.S.-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

EDIT

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/28/us-india-heatwave-disasters-idUSKBN0OD2EU20150528

[RiverLover]

1. I thought 750 people dead from the heat wave there was horrific, just 2 days ago.

So tragic to see its now even worse. Those poor people.

...Just googled it to see when that projected cool down was coming, and found the Guardian's report that the number of dead is now around 1800.

The heat wave is projected to last another 48 hours(posted 5 hrs ago).

My heart goes out to them.

[AuntPatsy]

2. So sad. Who's next....