Marketplace is community-funded public service journalism. Give in any amount that works for you – what matters is that you give today.
Heat wave death toll passes 1,000 in India
Some reports are saying that as many as 1,400 people have died in India due to the country’s latest severe heat wave, where temperatures are reaching well over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Several news organizations are posting photos of melting asphalt in New Delhi streets.
Indians are hoping for monsoon season rains to come soon and provide some relief from the sweltering temperatures.
Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal reached BBC Correspondent Justin Rowlatt in Delhi.
“Everybody here is being warned, take things easy. Don’t push it in this terrible heat,” says Rowlatt.
But many of India’s poorest residents don’t have the luxury of taking a few days off work.
“They’re desperate for the work, so they go out and continue to work hard (in the heat),” Rowlatt says. “What people are waiting for is the great release of the monsoon, which cools temperatures down.”
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.