At least 16 people have died in southern India as an intense heatwave continues to affect large parts of the country, officials said on Sunday amid official health warnings.

Temperatures in several Indian cities have recently exceeded 45 degrees Celsius, raising concerns about serious health risks, particularly for the elderly and outdoor workers.

India frequently experiences extremely hot summers, but scientific studies have shown that climate change is making heatwaves longer, more frequent, and more intense.

The South Asian nation, home to around 1.4 billion people, faces growing challenges in dealing with the health and economic consequences of extreme weather conditions.