Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj carried out a surprise inspection on Thursday in the state-run hospitals against the backdrop of a severe heatwave sweeping through the national capital. The minister said 14 people have lost their lives in the Delhi hospitals in the last 48 hours.
"The temperature has reached 52 degrees Celsius in the past days and it is the highest in the last 60 years. The night temperature was also degrees Celsius. The number of people suffering from heatwave has increased in North India. 310 people have been admitted to the Delhi government hospitals in the last 48 hours. 112 have been discharged. 118 are getting treatment and 14 lost their lives..," he said.
On Thursday, people of Delhi-NCR got a slight relief from the scorching temperature after light rain lashed some parts of the region.
Govt directs central govt hospitals to set up heatwave units
Earlier on Wednesday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda directed for special heatwave units to be set up in all central government hospitals amid scalding temperatures in large swathes of the country.
Nadda also asked officials to ensure all hospitals are prepared for providing the best care to the affected as he reviewed the heatwave situation across the country and preparedness of healthcare facilities with senior health ministry officials.
Following the minister's directions, the ministry issued an advisory for state health departments.
"The country may observe above-normal seasonal maximum temperatures in line with the observed trend of summertime temperatures. To reduce health impacts of extreme heat, health departments must ensure preparedness and timely response," the ministry said.
The advisory asked state nodal officers under the National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health to submit daily data on heatstroke cases and deaths. It also directed for the submission of data on total fatalities since March 1, besides reporting cases of heat-related illness and death surveillance.
It called for the maintenance of a digital line list of heatstroke cases and deaths -- both suspected and confirmed -- at the health facility and hospital level and undertaking "investigation of suspected heat-related illness deaths" by medical officers or epidemiologists for each suspected case.
Also read: Light rain in parts of Delhi-NCR brings slight relief from heatwave
