The Disaster Management Minister in Bihar claimed on Tuesday that only four people have died from heat stroke in the state so far.
According to the reports, Shahnawaz Alam has also said that the rest of the 22 deaths that have happened so far have caused due to 'other factors'.
In the last 48 hours, two deaths in Jehanabad and two more in Bhojpur were caused by heat stroke reportedly said the minister.
Shahnawaz Alam told PTI that the ministry is awaiting the post-mortem of five more deaths to determine the reason behind the rise in the death toll in the state. He said, "Only after getting the post-mortem reports of five more deaths, we will be in a position to say the reason behind the deaths. As of now only four people have so far died because of intense heat wave conditions in the state. Post-mortem examinations of four bodies have confirmed heat stroke as the cause of death".
Alam also added, "As far as 22 deaths attributed to heat stroke have been found to be caused by other factors... not heat stroke."
The Disaster Management Department wing of the Bhojpur district administration issued a press statement on Monday that five people have died due to heat stroke in Bhojpur over the prior two days. But Shahnawaz Alam refused to comment on it, he said that all the details are being analysed.
The minister further stated to the media, "We have asked districts across the state to report any deaths that may have taken place because of intense heatwave conditions. Several parts of the state are currently in the grip of a scorching heatwave. The situation is being monitored by the state Disaster Management Department (DMD). We have also advised district authorities to monitor the situation in their respective districts."
Bihar is currently in the grip of a scorching heatwave which has broken the record of 11 years.
The mercury crossed the 43 degrees Celsius mark or more at several places in the state on Monday.
