Heatwave in India kills an estimated 640 people

International media report that over 600 people have lost their lives in the past week in a continued and severe heatwave in India.

According to CNN, the worst-off areas are the southeastern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in southern India, where state authorities say more than 400 people have died in the past few days. There are additional reports of some 200 people dying in the state of Delhi, toward the north.

Temperatures have been recorded as high as 48 degrees Celsius, or 118 degrees Fahrenheit but they have been at a sustained high over the past few days, with little respite at night. Temperatures are expected to remain this high for days according to weather reports.

India's monsoons will provide some relief, but the rains are projected to arrive in one more week. Once they hit India's southeastern coastline, they will likely take a few more weeks to hit the drier northern parts of India.

State authorities have been advising people to stay indoors and drink water while experts say that hot conditions should not normally lead to this many fatalities. However, many of affected areas in India are humid, which worsens the level of stress caused by excessive heat.

The heat wave also underscores India's long-running battle with poverty and inadequate infrastructure. Early reports from state governments indicate a majority of the fatalities so far are poor workers, or people without access to adequate shelter and water.

Heat waves are not uncommon in India and studies point at the possibility of them getting more intense and more frequent in the near future.