Death toll from severe heatwave in India surpasses 1,400

The death toll from a severe heatwave sweeping large swathes of India has now surpassed 1,400 people, officials say.

Bhambal Ram Meena, an official at the disaster management said on Thursday that a total of 1,020 deaths were reported from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh alone.

The official added that at least 340 people also died in heat-related incidents in neighboring Telangana State.

Meanwhile, local Indian media outlets have also reported 60 deaths in the eastern states of Orissa, West Bengal and a few in the capital New Delhi and its outskirts.