Severe weather conditions in India, including intense heatwaves, landslides, and floods has led to the death of at least 11 individuals this week. Among them, four tragically perished in a northeastern region, including a woman and her three daughters who were buried alive.
In New Delhi, the nation’s capital with a population of 20 million, temperatures soared, marking the hottest night in six years this past Tuesday. Hospitals reported at least 5 fatalities due to heatstroke this week alone.
Persistent heavy rainfall triggered floods and landslides, claiming the lives of at least 6 people.
“A landslide buried a woman and her three daughters alive,” a state disaster management official, Siju Das, said by telephone.
“Their house was on a slope, and they died on the spot around midnight,” he said, adding that the bodies were retrieved after a three-hour search operation by rescuers. A three-year-old was killed too.”
Across Asia, temperatures have surged dramatically, with many grappling with severe heat that has intensified since March. In Delhi and the nearby desert state of Rajasthan, temperatures have soared to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). This season, the Northwest and Eastern parts of India have experienced more than double the usual number of days classified as heatwaves.
These weather conditions have been exacerbated by fewer thundershowers and warm winds from neighbouring arid regions. In Assam, more than 160,000 people have been affected, with water levels exceeding the danger mark in rivers like the Kopili and Brahmaputra, among India’s largest.
Since the end of May 2024, reports indicate that over 30 individuals in the state have lost their lives due to floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.