India swelters under severe hot weather

Soaring temperatures cause huge distress, affecting lives, economy

An excruciating pre-monsoon heat wave is baking large parts of India, with temperatures routinely breaching 45 C and topping 47 C in many states, causing human and economic distress and even some deaths due to heatstroke.

The India Meteorological Department has continued issuing red and orange alerts, warning of "severe heat wave conditions" and unbearably warm nights. The national capital reportedly recorded the country's highest-ever temperature of 49.9 C recently.