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New Delhi: At least 8,056 people died during a five-day intense heatwave in Uttar Pradesh, making it India’s deadliest hotspot for heat-related fatalities, according to a study published on May 26. The northern state frequently faces the highest risk of excess deaths during extreme heat events in the country.

The figures in the research are based on estimated fatalities during the 2024 heatwave that broke all heat records, and emerged as the hottest year on the planet since 1901.

The research suggested that even a single day of extreme heat yields thousands of excess deaths, but a multi-day heatwave was deadlier. Uttar Pradesh’s toll was more than double that of Bihar, which takes the second place on the list with approximately 3,615 deaths. This is followed by Madhya Pradesh with about 2,964 deaths, Rajasthan (approximately 2,664 deaths)........

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