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As temperatures in parts of northern India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar, exceeded 50°C (120°F), reports of deaths poured in.
More than 60 people are believed to have died from heatstroke in recent days, Indian media reported Friday.
At least 18 people have died from a fever-related illness in Bihar state in the past 48 hours, officials said on Friday, including eight officials assigned to election duties, The Indian Express reported.
An investigation in Bihara, one of the most densely populated states in the country, is carried out in the seven stages of the elections.
The Bihara government has ordered the closure of all schools and coaching institutions until June 8 at serious temperatures. The Hindustan Times reported that 41 people have died of suspected heatstroke in the past 24 hours in Odisha, a state on the eastern coast of India facing the Bay of Bengal, as the state is hit by its hottest weather in nine years, citing local medical sources.
According to the Times of India, two children died of heatstroke in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. They were rushed to hospital after falling ill, but were pronounced dead on arrival. Earlier this week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, warning of "very high probability" of heatstroke and heat stroke among all age groups.
On May 29, Mungeshpur area of New Delhi reportedly recorded the highest temperature ever recorded in the country, at 52.9°C. However, IMD later stated that reading was associated with sensor errors and probably inaccurate.
The high court in Rajastkan called on Thursday to announce the Federal Government to fry the state emergency. "We have no Planet B to migrate to...If we do not act now, future generations will lose the opportunity to see eternal prosperity," the court reportedly said.
Meanwhile, at least three higher courts in the national capital have allowed lawyers to ditch the usual dresses and coats for the summer, Reuters reported. While the Indian Supreme Court and most higher courts have air conditioning, many lower courts and consumer forums depend on fans and have poor ventilation, the report said.
The thermal wave rages against the background of the ongoing universal elections in the most densely populated district of the world. On Saturday, the seventh and last stage will be held in 57 electoral districts in eight states. According to reports, paramedics will be deployed to polling stations on Saturday to provide first if necessary.
Earlier, the country’s independent election body set up a task force to review the impact of the heatwave and move the polling stations if needed. The heat was cited as a potential cause of the lower-than-usual turnout in the election.
