At a cremation ground on the banks of the Ganges in Ballia, a district in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, head priest Pappu Pandey counts the cost of extreme weather in the area.
As a vicious combination of extreme heat and punishing humidity blanketed the region before the arrival of the seasonal monsoon, the area filled with funeral pyres.
One of Mr Pandey's jobs is to keep a count of the bodies. Deaths doubled to about 50 a day at the peak of the heatwave in mid-June – numbers he has not seen in 20 years, other than during the pandemic, he said.
“It was like a divine curse,” Mr Pandey said.
The sweltering June weather, when the mercury soars as high as 46ºC, is forecast to worsen.
Scientists estimate climate change has made periods of extreme heat 30 times more likely in India and the World Bank said the country could be one of the first places where heatwaves breach the human survivability threshold.
Reports of a sharp increase in deaths among the most vulnerable in society have raised concerns about how the authorities can prepare for such extreme conditions.
As well as the human cost, failure to tackle the challenge could pose a risk to India’s economy.
McKinsey Global Institute estimates that the labour lost due to extreme heat in sectors such as construction and agriculture could put up to 4.5 per cent of India’s gross domestic product at risk by 2030.
“I have never seen such heat in my entire lifetime,” said C P Thakur, 91, a physician and former Indian health minister.
“It is worrying that so many people have died.”
Disputed death tolls
The exact death toll from the heatwave is not known, but some have suggested it is in the hundreds. Government representatives say the figure is lower.
Medical authorities have resisted directly connecting the weather with deaths, referring instead to people’s ages and health concerns.
One practical problem is that there may be several reasons behind the deaths, said Ronita Bardhan, associate professor of sustainable built environment at the University of Cambridge.
If somebody with an underlying health condition such as diabetes, which makes them more prone to dehydration, dies on a day of 45ºC temperatures, was it diabetes or the heat that killed them?
It is very challenging to establish a direct correlation between deaths and extreme heat as there is no diagnostic test for heat stroke
Ronita Bardhan,
associate professor of sustainable built environment, University of Cambridge
“It is very challenging to establish a direct correlation between deaths and extreme heat as there is no diagnostic test for heat stroke,” Ms Bardhan said.
A further complication is that less than a fifth of deaths in India are certified by a medical professional.
In north-eastern Bihar state, where the recent heatwave has also been felt, authorities estimate that 52 per cent of all deaths were officially recorded in 2019.
More than 11,000 people died from heat stroke between 2012 and 2021, data from the National Crime Records Bureau has shown.
Heatwaves also hit the poor hardest, a group that is least likely to be recorded in the statistics.
Many poor people work outside, do not have access to well-ventilated housing or air conditioning and tend to avoid going to hospital.
Sree Ram, 55, a mason in Bharauli village, about 35km from Ballia, became ill in early June after working in the heat. He makes 500 rupees ($6) a day.
When the heat became unbearable, he took a few days off – a heavy financial burden for his family.
Many others decided they could not, and they were the most common victims of the sweltering summer, health officials said.
Coping with heat
There is no agreement on whether such deaths are a consequence of inadequate preparation, general underinvestment in health care or simply the daunting challenges of the situation.
It has been an extremely hot year across Asia, with record temperatures in places such as Singapore and Vietnam.
India reported its hottest February since 1901 and forecasters issued warnings about the high heat and humidity in advance.
In March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a high-level meeting to review preparations for hot weather and ordered officials to produce information for the public.
Many states and districts have heat action plans in place.
Standard operating procedures in Uttar Pradesh include instructions to provide shade for stray animals.
But local media has reported that medical centres have been overwhelmed by a surge in patients suffering from high fever and diarrhoea – common symptoms of heat stroke.
There has also been inconsistent power supplies as the grid struggled to cope with the surge in demand.
In Bihar, people said heat alerts by the government were erratic. While some said they received an occasional text message in April or May, most said the alerts became more frequent only after the heat peaked and the death toll in hospitals rose.
State officials have rejected the suggestion they were caught out.
Ravindra Kumar, district magistrate in Ballia, said authorities had a tried-and-tested warning system that is followed every year for all natural calamities.
Ranjeet Kumar, chief health surveillance officer for Bihar, said officials began to inform people about heat protection in March and made ample preparations in hospitals.
“People are well aware of these do's and don'ts,” Mr Kumar said. “But they have to step out for work.”
One of the few places in India where there is any mechanism for day labourers to recoup earnings if they heed advice to stay inside is in the western city of Ahmedabad.
A pilot project there has experimented with an insurance scheme in which women can receive payouts whenever heat makes it impossible to work outdoors.
It is funded by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Centre.
A key question is whether the heat plans go far enough. When researchers at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi reviewed 37 plans in a report, they found significant gaps.
About a third discussed funding sources and few identified vulnerable populations and how to distribute resources. Most were not statutory documents and lacked clear legal authority.
“Heatwaves have historically received less attention compared to other disasters,” said Aditi Madan, associate fellow at the Institute for Human Development.
While the plans demonstrate progress, the recent deaths should “serve as a stark reminder of the necessity for proactive measures by the government”, she said.
The risks of not allocating more resources may change as extreme heat becomes more common and more cities start to experience dangerous summer highs.
The planet has been scorched by eight of the warmest years on record. Last year, temperatures in the country hit a record 49ºC.
In its report on heat action plans, the CPR think tank said that by 2050, 24 urban centres were projected to breach average summer highs of at least 35ºC.
“Many places that need to have local heat action plans do not have one,” said Aditya Pillai, lead author of the report.
He said that among the cities not to publish comprehensive plans are many of India’s biggest metropolitan areas – and drivers of its economy – including Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Meydan Racecourse racecard:
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 | 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 1,600m
8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,600m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,600m.
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Holiday destination: Sri Lanka
First car: VW Golf
Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters
Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The%20specs
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
More on Quran memorisation:
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
