India is currently experiencing a serious epidemic of heat wave that are sweeping through several states, making it more strenuous to handle such vital events and pressuring essential services.
Bihar exists above 44 degrees Celsius, causing the unfortunate deaths of at least nineteen people including polling staffs in stations and ordinary persons.The medical facilities have been flooded with cases of heat stroke hence necessitating prevention measures to be taken urgently.
Similarly, suspected heat strokes in Odisha and Jharkhand caused deaths and increased hospitalizations as authorities issued advisories requesting residents to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activity during peak times of the day.
Delhi’s heat wave has not only subjected the residents to water scarcity but also put pressure on the judiciary system compelling them to adjust agreements in their courts so as lawyers could seek relief for the parties involved.
That said here is how different parts of our country are affected by this intense summer weather—
Heatwave & Bihar Election
Bihar experienced an intense hot spell on its crucial polling day leaving at least 19 people dead. The mercury rose above 44 degrees Celsius in Aurangabad and Kaimur districts.
Therefore, medical facilities recorded multiple instances resulting into some fatalities like polling station employees or even a teacher. It is during the period of elections that care should be taken when seeking for health support.
“Around forty patients suffering from sun stroke came here on Thursday,” Dr Sahil Raj, a doctor at Mohaniya Divisional Hospital in Kaimur said
“Among them two people who were referred to me died due to heat-stroke including polling staff. There are about thirty or forty individuals being treated including police officers. Some are discharged after treatment while many others are still being attended.”
Three more deaths occurred due to extreme heat wave conditions reported Aragh area Bhojpur district Bihar.
“There were reports that three persons had died, one was a home-guard who was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. There is also a presiding officer on duty in Jagdishpur, his condition stabilized and then was referred to the hospital.”
Aurangabad heat wave deaths Bihar health department officials said that there are 12 cases till now and more than 20 patients have been admitted to different hospitals in the district.
Bihar is voting across all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections with the final phase scheduled for Saturday, June 1.
Delhi court ‘too hot’, judge asks lawyers to take off robes
At least three High Courts have allowed removal of gowns and coats during summers, even though this has been urged upon by the Supreme Court as a general rule applicable to all lawyers in India.
A New Delhi judge postponed a case until later this year due to lack of air conditioning and water supply.
While most high courts including India’s Supreme Court have air-conditioning facilities, smaller courts and consumer forums mainly use fans which do not provide adequate ventilation.
In their written order this week, the three judges said they were unable to hear the case because it was too hot in the courtroom. They adjourned it until November when temperatures will be cooler.
There is no air conditioning in the courtroom and there is no cooler… It is too hot. There is not even water supply and it is not even possible to go to the bathroom to relax… In this situation, arguments cannot be heard,” the order said.
New Delhi reached around 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time ever this week, leading to curtailment of water supplies, closure of schools and establishment of heat stroke wards in hospitals.
To prepare for a possible illness among voters on queue under scorching sun Saturday during India’s huge general election, paramedics have been put into operation. About 10 days ago in this factory one worker died from heat exhaustion.
Delhi’s Water Crisis amid Heat Wave
The situation has been worsened by an ongoing heat wave which has led to severe water shortage for Delhi forcing the government to immediately look out for additional water sources from neighboring Haryana in such cases.
In its plea, the Delhi government said that they had filed a complaint as people were facing a serious drinking water shortage due to consistent scorching weather conditions majorly experienced in north India. Nation’s capital city.
“The first defendant (State of Haryana) is directed to release water at Wazirabad barrage immediately and continuously,” says the complaint.
As a result of record high temperatures and heat wave in Delhi, maximum temperatures have touched about 50 degree Celsius at certain places which resulted into unusually very large increase in demand for water supply within the city.
Consequently, Delhi being the national capital has been affected by this which created problems of scarcity of water resulting into frequent leakage of pipes causing disruption on daily life aspects common man living within those areas.
Madhya Pradesh Heat Wave
The temperature soared above 48 degrees Celsius in some parts of Madhya Pradesh with a severe heatwave continuing to grip it while warning issued by meteorological department stated that there would be western disturbance with light rain in some parts of the state. The authorities have advised people to stay indoors and take precautions against heat stroke.
According to the Meteorological Department, in the past 24 hours there was a maximum temperature of 48.2 degrees Celsius in Siddi district and it reached up to Khajuraho area of Chhatarpur district in 47 degrees Celsius.
The regional weather office has also predicted light rains in parts of the state due to a cyclonic circulation formed by a western disturbance towards Jammu, which may bring some respite to residents.
“In the past 24 hours, the maximum temperature in Siddi in the state was 48.2 degrees Celsius and in Khajuraho it was 47 degrees Celsius. A severe heat wave has also been witnessed here and 10 more districts in the state have witnessed heat wave. In the past 24 hours,” said Prakash Dhole, meteorologist at IMD Bhopal.
Also formed over Jammu is an upper level cyclone accompanied by formation of western disturbance cyclonic circulation moving towards Jammu namely from Bihar through Uttar Pradesh into West Bengal across Sikkim.Uttar Pradesh forms a trough for special cyclonewinds that stretches from Bihar across West Bengal into Sikkim region. Accordingly,Dhole said IMD Bhopal is expecting light rain over parts of Chambal, Gwalior and scattered rainfall Anupur Dindori within next twenty four hours.
Death toll due to Heat Stroke Odisha
So far five deaths caused by heatstroke have been confirmed by Odisha government while further inquiry is being made into another eighteen death cases suspected as those related with heat illness
Balasore, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur and Bolangir districts have a confirmed death
This is due to the fact that they are all in Odisha.
Also, there were reports of 18 heat-stroke suspected deaths lodged with the government. Twelve of these were from Sundergarh district while Jharsuguda district had six cases. Autopsies would be needed to know exactly how they died.
10 heat patients are being treated at a private hospital in Rourkela now, the Sundargarh District Magistrate said. However, Rourkela Government Hospital has admitted 23 others for treatment on their own accord. The situation is stable.
Jharsuguda district chief medical officer Jayakrushna Nayak says that there have been six unnatural deaths in the district and autopsies would reveal whether this was caused by heat stroke.
Heat waves in Jharkhand
This is because four people died due to heat stroke today in Jharkhand while as many as 1,326 victims were hospitalized due to extreme temperatures all over much of this state’s east.
According to them, all district hospitals and other medical institutions should set aside air-conditioned rooms and empty beds for treating patients suffering from heat stroke.
Moreover, most of jharkhand’s 24 districts experienced temperature over 40 degrees Celsius with even higher temperatures in places like Daltonganj and Garhwa (47 degree Celsius).
Finally apart from humans who suffer too much during these hot seasons; bats also get severely affected by such conditions
Other sections of Hazaribagh, Ranchi,Gharwa and Palamu have recorded bat deaths according to officials.
Dr Trivedi explained that bats dying under such circumstances was not unusual since he added that locals had reportedly eaten dead bats somewhere around Garhwal.
