India reels under scorching heat wave

Indian authorities say that more than 1,150 people have died as a result of a blistering heat wave that swept across the South Asian nation. Most victims of the soaring temperatures have been homeless and elderly people as well as construction workers. This man in Hyderabad, the capital of the southern Indian state of Telangana and de jure capital of Andhra Pradesh, is resting in the shade.

These two southern states are among the worst-affected, with temperatures reaching 48 degrees Celsius in some areas. However, there could be some respite from the sweltering heat as some parts of north and south India are expected to experience thunderstorms in next two days, thus bringing down the temperature by a few notches. Major relief is only expected to come in June with the monsoon.

People in the capital New Delhi are also affected by the extreme temperatures, which have reportedly caused some roads to partially melt. This police officer has found a spot in the shade.

The heat wave has also led to lower water levels. Disaster management authorities have called on the people in the affected areas to drink water and not to venture into the outside without a cap, especially around noon. Shown here are Indian fishermen catching fish in a shrunken pond in the village of Phaphamau on the outskirts of Allahabad.

Those who can, take the opportunity to plunge into water and beat the heat, just like this man in Andhra Pradesh.

Necessity is the mother on invention: This commuter in Allahabad uses the train water pipes to have a cold shower at a railway station in Allahabad.

These two boys from the western Indian city on Ahmedabad jump into the waters of the Sabarmati River to cool off themselves. Meteorologists say temperatures soared to 43 degrees in the state of Gujarat on this day.

Officials say the temperatures currently being recorded in many parts of the country are four notches above the season's average. The Indian summer starts in April and lasts until the arrival of the monsoon. So far increased rainfall activity has been observed over the Bay of Bengal. The rains are expected to reach India's southern tip in the beginning of July and then move to the north and west.