Patna: A severe heatwave has reportedly killed around 60 people in Bihar in one day, in what authorities have describe as the worst casualty from extreme weather conditions in recent years.
Unofficial reports put the death toll at more than 70. This was the first time in the state that so many deaths were reported on a single day on Saturday.
The deaths were reported from three southern Bihar districts, with Aurangabad reporting the maximum casualties of more than 30 dead. Two other neighbouring districts Gaya and Nawada reported 20 and 8 deaths respectively, officials said.
“We found a sudden flow of patients after 5pm and all were sick due to the heatwave. At least 15 people were brought dead,” Dr Surendra Prasad Singh, from the Aurangabad Government Hospital, told the media on Saturday. He said more than 30 people had died from the heatwave and the toll could rise further as the condition of many patients was critical.
Due to the heatwave, authorities have closed all schools in Patna until June 19 while orders have been issued to conduct only morning classes when schools open after summer vacations. Weathermen have predicted that extreme weather conditions would continue for another two days and that there was no chance of rains until June 25.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the heatwave deaths and announced compensation of Rs400,000 (Dh20,993) to the families of each victim. He also ordered effective measures to combat heat stroke in the state.
On Saturday, maximum temperatures were on an average five degrees higher than normal in many locations in Bihar. Patna, the state capital, recorded the a maximum day temperature of 45.8C on Saturday, the highest in 53 years.
Among other important towns, Gaya recorded a maximum temperature of 45.2C, Aurangabad 44C, Bhagalpur 41.5C and Muzaffarpur 40C.
