HYDERABAD: Indian authorities urged hospitals to treat heatstroke as an emergency as the toll from a long heatwave topped 1,800 on Friday, making it the deadliest in more than two decades.
Hundreds of mainly poor people die at the height of summer every year in India, but this year's figures are already nearly double the annual average.
Experts say the official figures likely understate the true impact because heatstroke disproportionately affects the poor and homeless, who are less likely to die in hospitals.
Most of the confirmed deaths are in the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where doctors described hospitals overflowing with victims of severe heatstroke.
P. Tulsi Rani, special commissioner for disaster management in the state, said the high number of deaths was down to record high temperatures over a longer period that usual.
"So many people died this year because the heat wave is continuing for a longer period than it normally does, and also record temperatures have been recorded in a number of places," he told AFP.
"It (the heatwave) has been continuing for a longer period, for about 7 to 8 days now, whereas usually it only lasts for a few days."
Authorities in Telangana said they were running a television campaign to teach people how to stay cool and recognise the symptoms of heat stroke, which can be fatal if left untreated.
Streets of the state capital Hyderabad were deserted during the hottest period of the day, with many shops and businesses shut.
Syed Samad, who owns a business renting out air conditioning units, said trade was better than ever before.
"We provide air conditioners on rent to people for 50 rupees (80 cents) per day on a monthly contract," he said.
"Business has been great this year, much better than previous years. All our units have been leased out throughout April and May, which has never happened before."
Authorities in Delhi, where top temperatures have hit 45 degrees Celsius, ordered hospitals to treat heat stroke victims as emergency cases.
"The main thing is prevention in this situation, to ensure that preventive measures are being taken," said Charan Singh, additional director of public health in the state government.
The surge in demand for electricity from air conditioners led to power cuts in parts of Delhi, exacerbating the misery for residents of the capital.
Unconfirmed reports said two people had died in Delhi, where tens of thousands sleep on the streets with little protection from the heat.
Authorities in eastern Orissa state said they had 12 confirmed deaths from heatstroke and were investigating the causes of another 80.
India declares a heatwave when the maximum temperature hits 45 degrees Celsius, or five degrees higher than the average for the area in previous years.
The monsoon is forecast to hit the southern state of Kerala on May 30 before sweeping across the country, but it will be weeks before the cooling rains reach India's arid plains.
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