Massive heat waves have hit parts of India killing more than 700 people in India in less than one week.

The areas that have recorded worst cases include the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, where more than 550 people have died in the last five days.

Another 215 have died in the neighboring state of Telangana.

The extremely dry conditions have been made worse by winds blowing in from Pakistan’s Sindh province across the northern and central plains of India.

According to B.P. Yadav, director of the India Meteorological Department, the extreme dry heat is being blown into India by westerly winds.

Yadav also said that the capital, New Delhi, Haryana state, the desert province of Rajasthan and several central and eastern regions are also badly affected by the intense heat.

Those that have died as a result include beggars and the homeless, as well as construction workers working under the rays of the sun.

In India, only about one third of the country’s 1.2 billion people have access to electricity thus relief via indoor ventilation is lacking in many homes.

Meteorologists however say rains are projected to arrive in one more week. This they add will provide some measure of relief.

State authorities have advised people to stay indoors and drink plenty of water.

Heat waves are common in India.