India records 56 heat wave deaths, nearly 25,000 heat stroke cases in last 3 months

In the last three months, India has registered about 25,000 suspected cases of heat stroke and at least 56 deaths, according to a local media report citing the country's federal health ministry on Monday.

"There were at least 56 confirmed heatstroke deaths across the country from March to May, with 46 of them in May alone, according to central (federal) government data," local newspaper Hindustan Times said.

The newspaper reported that, when autopsies were not available, officials in some states were hesitant to categorize deaths caused by heat exposure.

As per the data, Madhya Pradesh has reported the most number of deaths at 14, followed by Maharashtra at 11.

The newspaper said as many as 24,849 heatstroke cases have been reported since March 1.

This year, the temperatures have been record-breaking in India. Many parts of India have experienced heat waves lasting over two weeks, with temperatures hovering above 45 degrees Celsius and even soaring beyond 50 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Last month, the India Meteorological Department said the country would face extreme heat from April to June with the central and western peninsular regions anticipated to be the worst affected.