At least 96 people died in two of India’s most populous states over the past several days, with swaths of the country reeling from a sweltering heatwave. The deaths happened in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar, where authorities warned residents aged over 60 and others suffering various maladies to stay indoors during the daytime. All the fatalities in Uttar Pradesh, totalling 54, were reported in Ballia district, about 300km (200 miles) south-east of Lucknow, the state capital. Authorities found out most of those who died were over 60 and had pre-existing health conditions, which may have been exacerbated by the intense heat. SK Yadav, a medical officer in Ballia, said on Sunday that over the past three days some 300 patients had been admitted to the district hospital for various ailments aggravated by heat. Due to the gravity of the situation, authorities cancelled leave applications of medical personnel in Ballia and provided additional hospital beds in the emergency ward to accommodate the influx of patients. Officials said most of the admitted …

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