AKIPRESS.COM - At least 56 people died in India due to heatstroke in the past three months. 46 deaths were registered in May alone, the Hindustani Times reportsjavascript:mctmp(0);.

Madhya Pradesh province in central India has reported maximum deaths — 14, followed by Maharashtra in western India — 11, Andhra Pradesh — 6 and Rajasthan —  5.

The Centre keeps track of heat-related cases and deaths as part of the National Heat-Related Illnesses and Death Surveillance.

Among heatstroke cases, 24,849 cases have been reported since March 1, under the Centre's surveillance program, out of which 19,189 were reported in May.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), there were two intense spells of humid heat over east and southeast Peninsular India between April 5 and 7, over southern India on April 15-30, and over eastern parts of the country on May 1-7.

Last week, the India Meteorological Department recorded an absolute temperature record of 52.9°C in Delhi.