Over 10 people died in the last three days and at least 12 are on life support due to extreme heatwave in the Delhi-NCR region. Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday sent an advisory to all the hospitals to give priority treatment for all who have been admitted due to the heat wave.
According to an NDTV report, five people died over the last two days and at least 12 were put on life support at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Dr Ajay Shukla, medical superintendent of the state-run hospital, informed that 22 people had been admitted after they suffered a heatstroke.
“Five patients died and 12 or 13 patients are on ventilator support,”Dr Shukla was quoted by NDTV as saying.
The doctor further warned that the mortality rate in heatstroke cases is quite high, about 60-70%. “If the patient is brought late to the hospital, one organ after the other starts failing. There is a lack of awareness. A lot of these patients are migrant labourers. Also, the symptoms (of heatstroke) can be easily missed or mistaken for something else. It’s only when patients faint that their relatives feel that hospitalisation is needed,” he said.
Dr Shukla also emphasised the need to spread awareness about heatstroke. “We need to educate people. Instead of rushing to the hospital, if you suspect that a person is suffering from heatstroke, you must start cooling there and then. Use water, ice, while trying to get them to the hospital. We have also equipped ambulances so that they can start cooling immediately after they reach the patients,” he said.
On the other hand, seven people were found dead in different parts of Noida in the last 24 hours without any visible signs of injury amid a heat wave, a PTI report said.
Police on Tuesday noted that the cause of death is yet to be ascertained. On chances of heat waves causing these deaths, a police spokesperson said they are “actively investigating” these cases and have initiated necessary legal proceedings.
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