Heatwave causes deaths in UP, Bihar and Odisha

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NEW DELHI: According to news reports and health officials, Uttar Pradesh has reported over 100 deaths from heat-related ailments in the past few days along with Bihar with over 45 fatalities, and Odisha with one confirmed death on June 18, 2023.

The district of UP, Ballia reported a maximum temperature of 42.2 degree Celsius – 4.7 degrees Celsius above normal as per the Indian Meteorological Department. The district has reported at least 68 heat-related deaths in five days. Officials said that just in two days, at least 44 people died with scorching heat aggravating their pre-existing ailments.

AK Singh, Health Director, Lucknow said that most patients have been suffering from chest pain, complaining about difficulty in breathing and feeling feverish.

Jitendra Kumar Yadav, a hearse driver in Deoria town, 110 kilometers from Ballia, told The Associated Press, “So many people are dying from the heat that we are not getting a minute’s time to rest. On Sunday, I carried 26 dead bodies.”

Diwakar Singh, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the Ballia Hospital claimed that coolers, air conditioners, and fans have been arranged for the patients and staff to prevent the risk of heat stroke.

Police have also confirmed the death of Vinod Sonkar, a traffic police sub-inspector, due to severe heat, after fainting on duty in Ayodhya.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered officials to ensure the availability of electricity and no unnecessary power cuts and said that a provision should be made to purchase more electricity if needed. He further ordered the officials to have proper drinking water in all the civic bodies and rural areas.

The Odisha government confirmed the state’s first heat-wave death and sanctioned ex gratia of ₹50,000 for the family of the victim. The state has reportedly received reports of 20 deaths allegedly caused by heat waves, according to a senior official at the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office.

Mansukh Mandaviya, Health Minister, Government of India, chaired a high-level meeting on public health preparedness for heatwave management across the country and has asked a team of experts to visit the affected areas in UP and Bihar.