At least 54 people have died in Orissa where vast swathes of the rural landscape have seen temperatures soaring to 49 degrees Celcius (120.2 degrees Fahrenheit)

The worst affected districts were Titlagarh and Talcher with the elderly and children making up most of the dead, said a state government official who requested anonymity.

He said authorities were investigating whether more people may have died as unofficial reports have put the death toll at over 100 in the state.

Forecasters say the heat wave is likely to last another two days.

The other heat-realated deaths were reported in western Maharashtra and southern Andhra Pradesh states where more than 1,400 people died due to severe heat conditions in 2003.

India's seasonal monsoon rains hit the southernmost state of Kerala last week but it would take another fortnight for them to reach the sun-scorched central and northern states, according to weather forecasters.