North India Reels Under Heatwave, 98 Dead in UP and Bihar
Image for representational purpose. Credit: National Herald
With an extreme heatwave prevailing in North India, at least 98 people have died in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh due to severe heat in the last three days.
While 34 people admitted at a district hospital in Ballia died due to the heat, the number of heat-related deaths reported from Bihar stands at 44. At least 400 people were admitted to a district hospital n Ballia with complaints of fever, breathlessness, and other health complications, according to an India Today report.
Most of the patients who died in Ballia were aged above 60.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Jayant Kumar said that the UP district is reeling under severe heat and people are getting admitted to the hospital for treatment.
He said that there have been 34 deaths in two days, of which 23 deaths were reported on June 15 and 11 on June 16.
The CMO said those admitted were suffering from various illnesses, adding that elderly people are not able to tolerate the sweltering heat.
Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the District Hospital Diwakar Singh told reporters that fans, coolers, and air conditioners have been arranged in the hospital to prevent the risk of heat stroke for patients and staff.
The number of doctors and paramedical staff has also been increased, he added.
Singh has advised people to follow precautions to prevent heat stroke.
Out of 44 deaths in Bihar, 35 were reported from Patna and nine from other districts of the state.
The temperature in at least 11 districts surged past 44 degrees C with a severe heatwave on Saturday. Bihar's capital, Patna, recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7 degrees Celsius, while Sheikhpura remained the hottest place at 45.1 degrees Celsius.
According to the India Today report, schools have been shut in Patna till June 24. Other districts in the state have also opted for similar measures.
The weather office has issued an "extreme heatwave" alert for the state on June 18 and 19.
The entire central and eastern Uttar Pradesh along with Bihar are reeling under sultry weather.
As per Indian Meteorological Data (IMD), the maximum temperature in Ballia was recorded at 42.2 degrees Celsius on Friday, which is 4.7 degrees above normal.
The mercury has stayed above 41 degrees Celsius-mark since last week as the data.
"Heatwave to severe heat wave conditions are likely to continue over East, east central and east peninsular India during the next 3-4 days and gradual abatement thereafter," the IMD was quotes as saying by the India Today report.
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