Severe heatwave claims 54 lives in UP’s Ballia; over 400 hospitalized
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New Delhi: Nearly 54 people have died and around 400 hospitalised in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district over the last 72 hours due to the scorching heatwave.
Although doctors have identified various causes for these fatalities, they suspect that the severe heat played a significant role. Rising temperatures have led to an increase in hospitalizations due to the extreme heat.
A pervasive heatwave has swept across Uttar Pradesh, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in most areas. Numerous districts in Uttar Pradesh, as well as other states in northern India, are grappling with the severe heat.
The sudden surge in fatalities and admissions of patients suffering from fever, respiratory difficulties, and other health issues has overwhelmed the local hospital.
The facility has put its staff on high alert to manage the influx of cases. Officials have also noted that the majority of patients coming in were above the age of 60.
According to SK Yadav, the in-charge Medical Superintendent of the District Hospital in Ballia, 23 patients succumbed on June 15, followed by 20 the next day, and an additional 11 on the subsequent day.
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Dr. BP Tiwari, Additional Health Director of the Azamgarh Circle, has stated that a team from Lucknow will arrive to investigate the possibility of an undetected disease outbreak.
According to Dr. Tiwari, the rise in temperature, even by a slight margin, may have contributed to the deaths of individuals already at risk, such as those with respiratory conditions, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The district hospital is experiencing an overwhelming rush of patients, resulting in a shortage of stretchers. Many attendants are compelled to carry their loved ones on their shoulders to the emergency ward.
The Additional Health Director contends that while it becomes challenging when ten patients arrive simultaneously, they do possess an adequate number of stretchers.
UP Health Minister Brajesh Pathak has assured that the government is taking this incident in Ballia seriously and that he is personally overseeing the situation. He added that two senior doctors at the director level have been dispatched to the area to provide a detailed assessment of the situation.
"In the region, all Chief Medical Officers have been directed to promptly identify each patient and ensure appropriate medical care. Government health centers have an ample supply of medicines, and patients need not purchase them externally. I am personally monitoring the situation," stated the Health Minister.
On Friday evening, the Chief Medical Superintendent, Dr. Diwakar Singh, who has since been removed from his post, stated that 34 deaths were attributed to heatstroke.
He clarified that all the deceased individuals were elderly and already had pre-existing ailments. The extreme heat exacerbated their conditions, and despite the availability of medical treatment and medications, they succumbed during the course of their treatment and tests.
In Bihar, out of the 44 reported deaths, 35 occurred in Patna alone. Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) accounted for 19 deaths, while Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) witnessed 16 fatalities.
The remaining nine deaths were reported in other districts of the state. As a precautionary measure, all schools in Patna have been closed until June 24.
With inputs from agencies
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