India heatwave death toll passes 2000

THE death toll from a blistering heatwave sweeping India has exceeded 2000, as officials say the sweltering conditions will persist for the next two days.
THE majority of casualties were reported from the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which saw their highest sustained summer temperatures in 12 years during the past week.
More than 200 people had died since Friday noon, taking the total death toll in both states on Saturday to 1979, disaster management officials said. Andhra Pradesh recorded 1490 deaths. Most of the victims were the poor, forced to work in the open because of their livelihoods, or the elderly. Another 62 deaths were reported from the Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat states as well as national capital New Delhi, broadcaster NDTV reported. Isolated rains in a few areas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had provided some relief but the region continued to remain in the grip of the heatwave. Temperatures at most places hovered between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius. "The meteorology department has given a warning of high temperatures for two more days. There should be some relief as we can expect some rains by Monday," Telangana disaster management official Sadabahar Kavi said. India's monsoon rains were expected to hit the southern coast of Kerala state by June 1.