19 June
The death toll from a heat wave in India has surged to more than 200. Parts of the country have seen temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius.
Officials say there have been reports of 207 heat-related deaths across the country. This includes 83 people in the eastern state of Bihar who died of heatstroke while working at construction sites or in fields.
The state has been grappling with an encephalitis outbreak this month, mostly among children. Many who were being treated for the disease have reportedly died because of the heat.
Weather officials say maximum temperatures in parts of the country are about 5 degrees higher than normal for this time of year. The conditions have been made worse by the delayed arrival of monsoon season.
The officials say the heat wave will continue for around another week. They're calling on people to stay well-hydrated and avoid going outside during the day.
NHK
