Indian heatwave deaths top 125

Children look for water in Lucknow, northern India

At least 125 people have died of a heatwave in India over the past several weeks, local officials say.

They said the eastern state of Orissa was the worst affected with 75 confirmed deaths so far this summer.

In the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, at least 35 people have died of sunstroke and dehydration.

Soaring temperatures - reaching in one place 50C (122F) - continue to sweep India, but meteorologists say monsoon rains will arrive in the next few days.

Heat-related deaths have also been reported in the northern states of Jharkhand and Bihar.

However, no official figures have been released there.

Unofficial reports in India's media say at least 200 people have died from the heat across the country.

Most of the victims were children, the elderly, and the poor, who often lacked proper shelter and drinking water, officials said.

The annual monsoon rains hit the southern Kerala state earlier in June - almost a week later than expected.

However, so far monsoons have not progressed much to the north-west, meteorologists say.