After nearly 100 deaths in three states -- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha -- in the last three days owing to exposure to severe heat, weather officials have issued warnings that the severe heatwave conditions will continue in some parts of the country.
Fifty-seven people admitted at Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district hospital have died in four days, following which a committee of the health department from Lucknow reached the area ascertain the cause of deaths, officials said on Sunday.
A two-member committee comprising Director (Communicable Diseases) Dr A K Singh and Director (Medical Care) K N Tiwari inspected the wards at the Ballia district hospital and ruled out severe heat as the main reason behind the rise in the deaths of elderly patients in the district.
The committee futher asked the authorities to test the drinking water in the area. "Most of these patients complained of chest pain, irregular breathing and fever. All aspects of these symptoms will be looked into and corroborated with necessary medical examination of body fluids," the director (communicable diseases) said.
When asked if the deaths were caused due to the recent heatwave, Singh said, "Had it been true, similar deaths would have also been reported from other districts which have recorded similar or higher day temperatures in the past few days. High temperature can lead to fever."
However, he admitted that coolers and other arrangements to counter heat in the hospital wards are insufficient.
In Bihar, 35 of 42 deaths took place in state capital Patna. Odisha confirmed one death due to heatwave on Sunday, with several uncomfirmed reports of 20 heat-related deaths.
Weather forecast
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in Ballia was recorded at 43.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, six notches above normal.
Monsoon rains, earlier forecast to arrive in the eastern region on Sunday, are delayed and expected only after June 20, the IMD said.
According to the IMD bulletin, the maximum temperature is likely to remain 41°Celsius on June 19. “The met department has issued heavy rainfall and strong wind warning for Uttar Pradesh from June 18 onwards,” said Mohd Danish, in-charge of the Met department’s Lucknow office.
The weather department has alo predicted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in Odisha, Vidarbha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, etc.
