More than 40,000 cases of suspected heatstroke have been reported in India. Frigid temperatures continue to scorch India this week in what has been confirmed as the “longest heat wave ever”.
At least 52 bodies have been brought to hospitals in the past two days. Times of India Reportedly, most of these people were poor and working outdoors.
According to government statistics, 110 deaths were recorded between March 1 and June 18. But activists and experts say the number could be much higher.
Five people have died from heat stroke in Delhi in the last 72 hours. toy said. Temperatures in Delhi once again crossed 44C.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the city had its hottest night on record Wednesday with a minimum temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius, 8 degrees above normal.
Nighttime temperatures can be particularly dangerous to human health because heat stress prevents the body from getting the rest it needs.
Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital, where two of the five people died, said at least 28 patients had been diagnosed with heatstroke in recent days.
Several surgeries were also postponed at the hospital’s sports injury center due to water shortages. Hindustan Times Correspondent X shared.
The Department of Health ordered federal and state agencies to ensure immediate attention to patients, and hospitals were directed to free up more beds.
Heat stroke, which includes dizziness, headaches, shivering, thirst and more, can affect anyone. However, it can be especially dangerous for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and the sick.
In more serious cases, heatstroke can occur when the body’s core temperature rises above 40.6C (105F).
One of the patients who died at RML Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday had a temperature of 110F (43C). An elevated body temperature is a medical emergency and can lead to long-term organ damage and death. Symptoms include rapid breathing, confusion or seizures, and nausea.
Millions of people in Delhi have been living in frigid temperatures since April, marking the longest heatwave so far this year.
The heat wave has worsened the water and electricity crisis. People are lining up in front of oil tankers as regular supplies are cut off. Fines were imposed on those who wasted water.
Delhi Water Resources Minister Atishi threatened an indefinite strike in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She criticized the neighboring state of Haryana for not releasing excess water into Delhi.
Meanwhile, power shutoffs have increased and engineers have warned record power consumption could place undue strain on the grid as more appliances are turned on to beat the heat.
Heat waves are also causing stress to animals. Due to extreme heat, several bats fell from trees and died in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Tuesday. The body was found in the city’s Nanarao Park, home to hundreds of bats.
Earlier, dozens of monkeys were found drowned while searching for water from a dried-up lake at a well in Jharkhand.
Billions of people across the Northern Hemisphere, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the United States, experienced record-breaking temperatures this summer.
As temperatures continue to rise in the coming years due to the climate crisis, risks from humidity are expected to increase. Warm air can hold more moisture. And more moisture in the air makes it harder for people to sweat to cool off.
Many countries do not record fever as a specific cause of death, but a 2021 study found that lance It is estimated that excessive heat may cause fewer than 500,000 deaths each year. This is a conservative figure, lacking data from many low-income countries.
