India heatwave kills nearly 300 people
New Delhi: India's Meteorological Department has sounded a red alert for several states as the death toll from a severe heatwave climbed to 289.
The department said heatwave conditions would continue for another three days in many parts of northern India, including the national capital New Delhi, and the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Temperatures in these regions ranged from 42 degrees to 48 degrees on Sunday.
At least 100 people have died and there was a water shortage in several districts across Andhra Pradesh, the state's Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Boys jump into the waters of the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad as the temperature soared to 43 degrees on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Mr Naidu appealed to people not to venture out of their homes or workplaces during the hottest hours between 11am and 4pm.
In neighbouring Telangana state, the heat had claimed 130 lives in the past 10 days, disaster management commissioner Bhambal Ram Meena said.
Day temperatures in Telangana's Khammam district soared to more than 48 degrees on Saturday.
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