Residents of Delhi have been suffering from heat wave for almost a month now.
New Delhi:
As the extreme heat wave in several parts of North India led to increased cases of heat stroke, the Union Health Ministry issued an advisory to central government-run hospitals to treat heat stroke patients on priority basis. Is.
Since May 27, 45 patients suffering from heat-related problems have been admitted to Delhi's government-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The hospital has reported nine deaths due to such problems since May 27, and seven of them have occurred in the past. two days. Many people are being admitted to other hospitals in Delhi due to heat stroke.
Dr. Ajay Shukla, medical superintendent of the government hospital, warned that the mortality rate in heat stroke cases is quite high — around 60-70 percent. “If the patient is brought to the hospital late, one organ after another starts to fail. There is a lack of awareness. Most of these patients are migrant workers. Also, the symptoms (of heatstroke) can be easily missed or mistaken. Another thing that happens when patients become unconscious is that their relatives feel the need to be hospitalized.”
Dr. Shukla said that there is a need to spread awareness about heat stroke. “We need to educate people. Instead of going to the hospital, if you suspect someone is suffering from heat stroke, you should start cooling them there. When trying to get them to the hospital, water, ice Also equip ambulances so that they can start cooling immediately after they reach patients.”
Residents of Delhi have been suffering from severe heat wave for almost a month now. The minimum temperature in the city crossed 35 degrees — several degrees above normal — and the maximum temperature hovered around the 45-degree mark. The tap water is hot all day, and even the air conditioners are struggling to provide relief.
In its forecast, the Meteorological Department has said that heat wave conditions are likely to persist in most parts of North India for the next 24 hours and will subside thereafter.
What is causing the unusually warm nights, explains Rajneesh Sarin of the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based think tank.
“There has been a significant increase in construction and concretization in big cities like Delhi. Concrete buildings absorb heat during the day and release it at night. That's why minimum temperatures are rising in big cities,” said Mr. Sarin. said, program director of the Sustainable Habitat Program. In CSE
Earlier, he said, temperatures would remain high during the day, but people would get some relief at night. “But nowadays, ACs are bursting due to the heat island effect. Construction is increasing in Delhi and green space is decreasing. Construction of high-rise buildings is also affecting air movement. “He added that the use of concrete should be reduced.