New Delhi - A searing heat wave has gripped India for the past four days, with temperatures averaging 45 Celsius, Rahul Bedi reports. The heat has claimed 111 lives so far and weather officials yesterday said it was unlikely to abate this week. The western state of Rajasthan, which accounted for 48 deaths, was the worst affected with Dholpur, 160 miles from New Delhi recording a temperature of 49 C for the third successive day yesterday. New Delhi at 45.6 C yesterday was the hottest day in May in 52 years while Amritsar broke all records, hitting 46.7C.
The piercing heat which made even breathing painful, forced thousands of people to remain indoors and led to several animals dying in Delhi's zoo. It disrupted train and phone services and caused power breakdowns as demand increased. Hundreds of people suffering from heat exhaustion were also admitted to city hospitals. Enraged by incessant power breakdowns, Delhi's residents have threatened to resort to violence if the government does nothing to improve things.