BIKANER, India – People in northern India have been battling a relentless, weeks-long heatwave that has forced schools to close in some places and increased the risk of heatstroke for workers working outdoors.
India’s meteorological department expects high temperatures to persist across the region over the next few days and has placed several states on high alert.
Some parts of Rajasthan reported up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday. The neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana also saw temperatures rise, with parts of the capital New Delhi surpassing the 48°C (118°F) mark on Tuesday.
India declares a heat wave whenever temperatures are above 45 C (113 F).
Extreme heat in northern India coincided with six-week-old general elections, increasing health risks as people wait in long queues to vote. Voting ends on Saturday.
Scorching temperatures also harm animals, putting them at risk of dehydration and heatstroke.
Sitaram, an animal conservationist from the one-name city of Bikaner in Rajasthan, said the endangered chinkaras – also known as Indian gazelles – face water shortages. Their rescue center cares for sick and injured chinkaras and provides them with shelter and water to beat the heat.
April, May and June are always hot in most parts of India, before monsoon rains bring cooler temperatures. But extreme heat is quickly becoming a public health crisis in India, with hot weather becoming more intense over the past decade and typically accompanied by severe water shortages.
Tens of millions of India’s 1.4 billion people do not have running water.
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