At least 54 people died in Ballia district of the state Uttar Pradeshin northern India in recent days, according to the Times of India newspaper, and authorities are investigating whether the deaths were due to heat wave affecting the area.

Another 45 people died in the neighboring state Biharlocal newspapers reported.

The Indian Meteorological Department last week issued a red warning for extreme weather in some parts of the country, including the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The temperature approached them 45 degrees Celsius in recent days in Ballia, with power outages making the situation worse.

In Bihar, 45 people died of heat-related illnesses, the Hindustan Times reported.

“Deaths have been reported in the district but it is very difficult to say whether it is due to the heat,” said Ravindra Kumar, a senior district official, without confirming the death toll.

The Uttar Pradesh state government has sacked the head of Ballia’s largest public hospital, Dwakar Singh, for saying the deaths were due to the heat. The state’s deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said on social media that Singh was removed from his post for making “irresponsible statements”.

Severe flooding in the northeast

While the heat wave is expected to continue in parts of India on Monday, other areas in the northeastern state of Assam have experienced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall.

“Intensity of rainfall in Assam and other northeastern states is likely to increase this week. Many areas are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall this week, which may cause flooding,” said an official of the India Meteorological Department.