Amid a severe heatwave causing a surge in heatstroke cases across north India, the Union Health Ministry has advised central government-run hospitals to prioritize treating heatstroke patients.
Health Minister JP Nadda has reviewed the situation, directing officials to ensure the establishment of special heatwave units to provide optimal care. With 20 deaths reported in three major hospitals in Delhi alone this summer, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has also released guidelines to help people protect themselves from heat-related issues.
At the state-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, 45 patients have been admitted for heat-related problems since May 27, with nine fatalities, seven of which occurred in the past two days. Safdarjung Hospital has reported nine deaths, including five on Wednesday, and Lok Nayak Hospital has reported two deaths in the past week. Other hospitals in the national capital have also admitted numerous patients with heatstroke symptoms.
Dr. Ajay Shukla, medical superintendent of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, warned that the mortality rate for heatstroke cases is alarmingly high, about 60-70 percent.
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He emphasized that delayed hospital arrival often leads to multiple organ failure. Dr. Shukla noted that many victims are migrant laborers and that heatstroke symptoms can easily be mistaken for other conditions, often leading to hospital visits only when patients faint. He stressed the importance of immediate cooling measures using water and ice and mentioned that ambulances have been equipped to start cooling patients immediately upon arrival.
Advisory to combat heatwave
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority has advised against going out in the sun, particularly between noon and 3 pm. It recommended drinking water frequently, even when not thirsty, and carrying water while traveling. Alcohol, tea, coffee, and carbonated drinks, which dehydrate the body, should be avoided, with ORS and homemade beverages like lassi, torani (rice water), lemon water, and buttermilk being preferred.
People should wear light-coloured, loose, and porous cotton clothes and use goggles and umbrellas when stepping out, and they should bathe frequently in cold water.
Delhi has been enduring a relentless heatwave for nearly a month, with minimum temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius and maximum temperatures around 45 degrees Celsius.
The weather office has forecasted that heatwave conditions are likely to continue for the next 24 hours but may abate afterward. Rajneesh Sareen of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) explained that increased construction and concretization in cities like Delhi have led to warmer nights, as concrete buildings absorb heat during the day and release it at night, raising minimum temperatures. He noted that reducing the use of concrete and increasing green areas could help mitigate this heat island effect.
