Death Toll for India Heat Wave Tops 1,100

The death toll for India's current heat wave topped 1,100 on Wednesday as thousands of residents in the country's southern states continue to suffer from heat stroke and worse in daily temperatures that reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

The massive death toll has risen in only a week and half of the high heat, with the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana being hit the hardest.

Authorities told CNN this week that 852 people have died from the heat in Andhra Pradresh, while another 266 died in Telangana.

According to BBC News, although the heat continues to maintain a daily 113 degree Farenheit temperature, approaching monsoon rains are expected to bring relief in the coming days.

"For the worst affected areas, these rains are still a few weeks away, so the heat will remain a problem," Al Jazeera meteorologist Richard Angwin said in a statement,

"For parts of southeastern India, the high humidity is making for particularly severe weather conditions. Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are experiencing insufferable heat and humidity, with nighttime temperatures barely falling below 30C," he added.

Officials have said that the majority of those dying in this year's heat wave are from poorer, working class families who spend most of their days outside and cannot retreat to air conditioned spaces.

The elderly, homeless, and laborers have been the main groups to die from this most recent heat wave.

Authorities in the hardest hit state of Andhra Pradesh have called for emergency water distribution to all residents in the hope of preventing a rising death toll in the coming days ahead of the monsoon rains.