A brutal heat wave has killed more than 1,400 people in India, where temperatures have gone as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of the country, while other areas are topping out around 116 degrees. The Associated Press reports that the Indian government is begging people to stay inside, while many others are flocking to rivers to try and stay cool. While heat waves strike India every year around this time, this year’s combination of western winds, lack of rain, and road-melting, near-record heat is proving to be especially dangerous. Most of the deaths have occurred in the southern part of the country, where higher humidity levels have created a devastating heat index. As should be expected, the poor, ill, elderly have been the ones put most at risk. To help people cope, volunteers are passing out salted buttermilk and raw onions, which Indians believe to be hydrating. The extreme heat is expected to last for several more days.
