Heatwave tragedy in Delhi: 5 people died due to heatstroke; over 23 hospitalised in last 3 days

As heatwaves continue in North India, death cases are being reported in many hospitals across parts of the country. 

In the last 72 hours, the capital recorded five deaths due to severe heatwave conditions. The national capital had its hottest night on Wednesday, June 18 with the maximum minimum temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius, eight notches above usual.

The five victims died of heatstroke in three hospitals including three in Ram Manohar Lohia (RML), and one each in Safdarjung and LNJP Hospital in the last 72 hours.

In the past 48 hours, around 23 people were admitted to RML hospital while 12 people were on ventilator support. In total, the hospital has received around 50 cases, and seven people have died in total due to the scorching heat in Delhi.

According to Dr Ajay Shukla, Medical Superintendent of RML Hospital, 11 people were admitted to the hospital on Tuesday with heat stroke, the highest reported in a single day this season. He said that since the beginning of the heatwave about a month or so ago at least 45 people have been admitted with heat-related ailments to date.

He also added that the main reason for the deaths was a delay in reaching the hospital. "So far we have received a total of 45-50 patients and around 7 people have died since the beginning of the heatwave situation," he said.

"Most of the patients are poor migrant labourers. They do a lot of physical work so they are very prone to heatstroke. Most of the patients die because they are late in reaching the hospital. The mortality rate in this is 60-70 per cent. If treatment is delayed, the number of deaths can be quite high," he added.

Dr. Seema Balkrishna Wasnik, senior consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, RML Hospital, stated, "Yesterday, an 82-year-old patient died from shock because she was already critically ill when she arrived."

Earlier, the National Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that at least 56 people had died from heatstroke across numerous states.

In May alone, 46 individuals perished from heatstroke. However, there were 1,918 suspected instances of heatstroke in May.

According to official data, more than 7 lakh persons were hospitalised in primary care hospitals' emergency departments.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions is expected to persist in several regions of North India on Wednesday before gradually subsiding due to an incoming western disturbance towards northwest India.

According to the IMD, heatwave conditions occurred throughout the majority of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as certain sections of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and north Madhya Pradesh. 

When Delhi-NCR people get relief from heatwave

Mahesh Palawat, senior IMD scientist, says, "Some parts of India including Delhi-NCR will continue to experience heat until the monsoon arrives. Although there will be some relief in the temperature due to light rain and strong wind today and tomorrow while the temperature will remain around 43 to 44 till June. Currently, the minimum temperature has reached around 35.2 degrees Celsius. This is the highest temperature since 2010."

"Currently, the impact of climate change is being seen at the global level. The situation is similar in India also. However, an improvement in temperature may be seen with the arrival of monsoon," he added.

With agency inputs