Heat wave claimed 3,500 lives in three years in India

Heat wave claimed over 3,500 lives across the country in the last three years, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

As many as 2,040 people died due to heat wave in 2015, 1,114 in 2016 and 384 in 2017, Rijiju informed the House in a written reply.

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Of the total heat wave casualties, 2,381 people died in Andhra Pradesh in the last three years, the minister of state for home said.

In 2018, so far, 22 people have died due to heat wave, he added.

Several parts of India reeled under heat wave conditions in May.

On May 27, Delhi recorded maximum temperature at 43.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average, while Sriganganagar in Rajasthan registering the hottest at 47.1 degrees Celsius, according to MeT official.

Alwar recorded the hottest day at 47 degrees Celsius, Barmer recorded 46.9 degrees Celsius, followed by 46.5 degrees Celsius in Kota, 46.4 degrees Celsius each in Jaisalmer and Churu, 46 degrees Celsius in Bikaner, 45.1 degrees Celsius in Jodhpur, 44.4 degrees Celsius in Ajmer, 44.2 degrees Celsius in Jaipur, 43.5 degrees Celsius in Dabok, 43.2 degree Celsius in Pilani.

(With inputs from agencies)