Assam Floods: 160,000 Affected as Kopili River Exceeds Danger Mark
The northwestern states of India are enduring an intense heatwave, with over 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases reported nationwide. As these regions continue to reel under the brutal heat, Reuters reports that the severe heatwave has already claimed over 100 lives across India. Meanwhile, parts of the northeastern states are grappling with heavy rains, landslides, and floods. Billions of people across Asia are facing extreme heat this summer, a trend scientists attribute to human-driven climate change. In north India, temperatures have soared to nearly 50 degrees Celsius during one of the longest heatwave spells recorded.
The prolonged heatwave in northern India has led to a significant increase in heat-related illnesses in states such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. In some areas, birds have been reported falling from the sky, dehydrated by the extreme heat.
With both day and night temperatures remaining significantly above normal in northwestern India, hospitals are seeing an increased inflow of patients due to heat-related issues.
According to a health ministry official, there have been more than 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases and at least 110 confirmed deaths between March 1 and June 18, as reported by Reuters. During this period, northwest and eastern India experienced twice the usual number of heatwave days.
Assam Floods Displace Over 160,000 as Kopili River Surpasses Danger Level
In May, Madhya Pradesh recorded over 5,200 cases of heatstroke, while Rajasthan reported more than 4,300 cases last month. Meanwhile, Delhi has seen around 20 deaths due to heat-related issues, with Noida reporting 14 deaths.
Due to the severe heatwave conditions and the rise in heat-related casualties, Union Health Minister JP Nadda reviewed the situation across the country on Wednesday. He also assessed the preparedness of hospitals to deal with the heatwave in a meeting with senior officials of the Health Ministry.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda reviewed the heatwave situation across the country and the preparedness of hospitals to deal with it during a meeting with senior officials of the Health Ministry today, according to a press release.
In a separate incident, floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain in the northeastern state of Assam killed at least six people on Tuesday night. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rainfall alert for the northeastern states of Manipur, Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh this week.
In Assam, more than 160,000 people have been affected by the floods, with waters surpassing the danger level in the Kopili River, one of the largest tributaries of the Brahmaputra, which is among India’s biggest rivers.
