India has recorded nearly 25.000 suspected cases of heatstroke and 56 people have lost their lives after several days of heat waves across the country from March to May, local media reported, citing government figures.
May was a particularly bad month for the region, with temperatures in the capital Delhi and the nearby state of Rajasthan reaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).
In contrast, parts of eastern India are reeling under the impact of Cyclone Remal. Heavy rain in the northeastern state of Assam has killed 14 people since Tuesday.
In the island nation of Sri Lanka, at least 15 people were killed in floods and landslides after heavy monsoon rains lashed the region, the country's Disaster Management Center (DMC) said on Sunday.
A confluence of factors has led to very hot summers in South Asia, a trend scientists say has been exacerbated by human-induced climate change.
At least 33 people, including election officials on duty in India's just-concluded general elections, died Friday of suspected heatstroke in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the north and Odisha in the east.
Data from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) showed the situation was at its worst in May, with 46 heat-related deaths and 19.189 cases of suspected heatstroke, the Print news site reported.
Including suspected cases, the total number of deaths in India could be much higher at 80, the Hindu newspaper reported.
In the central state of Madhya Pradesh alone, over 5.000 cases of heat stroke have been detected.
The Met Office has predicted that heatwave conditions will be less severe by Wednesday, with the early arrival of the monsoon last Sunday in the southern state of Kerala expected to bring more relief.
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