Authorities in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh are investigating dozens of deaths that some have attributed to a heatwave.

Between Thursday and Saturday, 54 deaths were reported in Ballia district, around 274km (170 miles) from the state capital Lucknow.

A district health official who said the heat could be a cause was transferred, sparking a political row.

The state government later set up a board to present a report on the deaths.

Temperatures in a few parts of Uttar Pradesh have ranged between 42C and 47C in the past week. The government has advised elderly people to stay indoors.

In neighboring Bihar state, local media reported that more than 40 people had died from the heat since 31 May, but the state government has not confirmed the number.

Bihar's additional chief secretary of health, Pratyaya Amrit, did not respond to the BBC's calls and messages. Dr. Umesh Kumar, the official in charge of Bihar's disaster control room, told BBC Hindi that he had received reports of around 15-16 deaths in the state and could give more details later in the day.

Am speechless