NEW DELHI

At least 192 homeless people died in nine days due to extreme heat in Delhi, India, a report by a non-profit organization said on Thursday.

The report by Center for Holistic Development said the deaths occurred between June 11 and 19. This is the highest number of deaths recorded in the said period.

Sunil Kumar Aledia, head of the NGO, said this alarming statistic indicates that effective measures should be taken as soon as possible for the homeless, the most vulnerable group of the society.

Aledia added that air pollution, rapid industrialization, urbanization and deforestation increase temperatures, worsening the conditions. He called on the government to initiate a summer action plan at the state and district level.

Delhi has been reeling under a heat wave, with daily temperatures crossing 40 degrees Celsius (104F) since May, peaking at nearly 50C. Humidity and hot winds aggravate the heat, compounded by water shortages and power outages.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar in Ankara