Nearly 100 die as India battles sweltering heatwave

"This has never happened in Ballia. I have never seen people dying because of the heat in such large numbers," he said.

"People fear venturing out. The roads and markets are largely deserted."

Ballia, along with central and eastern Uttar Pradesh, is currently grappling with oppressive heat.

On Sunday, the district experienced a maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, surpassing the normal range by five degrees.