Noida: In a curious case, at least seven people were found dead in different parts of Noida in Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours with no signs of injury, according to police, leading to suspicions that their deaths may have been a result of the sweltering temperatures prevalent across Delhi-NCR, leading to persistent heatwave conditions in the region.
Police said an unidentified person, believed to be a ragpicker, was found dead near Gate No. 5 of Amity University in Noida Sector-126 an another 60-year-old man was found dead in Sector 1 area. "In Sector 58, two bodies were recovered in the Green Belt park near Khoda T-point. No visible injuries were observed on the bodies. The local police inspected the scene and sent the bodies for postmortem," police said in a statement.
Moreover, an unknown man was found unconscious in Sector 61, who later died during treatment in a hospital. A security guard identified as Brahmanand, 51, also fell ill "suddenly" and was declared dead after being admitted to a hospital. Shyamlal Bashak, a 45-year-old labourer from West Bengal currently residing in Greater Noida, also became unwell and died later during treatment in Bhangel.
On chances of a persistent heatwave causing these deaths, a police spokesperson said they are "actively investigating" these cases and have initiated necessary legal proceedings. "In all these cases, the bodies were sent for postmortem, and the exact cause of deaths will be determined after the reports are received," the spokesperson said, adding that no signs of injury were found in all the bodies.
The India Meteorological Department said heat wave conditions prevailed in Noida on Tuesday but predicted thunderstorm and lightning for the city on Thursday. A red alert was issued in Delhi and the bordering states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on Monday due to ongoing severe heatwave conditions.
The persistent heatwave drove the national capital's peak power demand on Tuesday afternoon to 8,647 MW, the highest ever for the city, officials said. Hospitals in Delhi-NCR are seeing an influx of patients with complaints of heat stroke and heat exhaustion as the mercury continues to soar in the national capital, with doctors advising the elderly and immuno-compromised patients to avoid stepping outdoors.
(with PTI inputs)
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