2002 Indian heat wave

More than 1,030 people were killed in the 2002 heatwave in south India. Most of the dead were poor and elderly. Most of the deaths occurred in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Most of the deaths occurred in state of Andhra Pradesh. In districts that were impacted most severely, the heat was so extreme that shanties with tin roofs became hot as ovens and ponds and rivers evaporated. Moreover, in those districts, birds had fallen from the sky in addition to animals collapsing from the intense heat. It is said by officials to be the worst heat wave in four years. The relief commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, Rosaiah, said that the maximum number of 172 deaths related to heat took place in the East Godavari district. There were 166 deaths in Prakasam and 144 deaths in West Godavari. There were unusually high temperatures that were detected across India during April of the year 2002. In addition this heat wave over northern zones of India lasted from the middle of April to the third week in May, thus, causing these fatalities. On May 10 the highest temperature recorded in the region of Gannavaram (Vijayawada) was 49 degrees Celsius (120.2 degrees Fahrenheit). According to the BBC News, "Heatwaves are defined as periods of abnormally high temperatures and usually occur between March and June in India. May is the country's hottest month, with an average maximum temperature of 41C (104F) in Delhi. Longer, more severe heatwaves are becomingly increasingly frequent globally. Intense heat can cause cramps, exhaustion and heat stroke.Thousands of people have died across India during heatwaves in 2002 and 2003." In the hardest-hit districts, the heat was so intense that tin-roofed shanties turned into ovens, ponds and rivers dried up, birds fell from the sky and animals collapsed. The heatwaves also affected the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Orissa and 100 people suffered from heat-related sickness.

• 2010 Indian heatwave

References

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