NEW DELHI: In the last 48 hours, the bodies of 50 people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds were recovered from around Delhi, police said, adding to the deaths and cases of heat stroke due to the intense heat wave in the city. has increased.
However, police and health officials have not confirmed whether all of them died of heatstroke.
A 55-year-old man's body was found at the Children's Park near India Gate on Wednesday, a senior police officer said, adding that an autopsy would be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.
The Center for Holistic Development, an NGO working for the homeless, claimed that 192 homeless deaths were recorded in Delhi from June 11 to 19 due to the heat wave.
In the national capital, hospitals have reported a rise in cases of heat stroke and heat exhaustion and several deaths in the past two days.
The city recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal. The night temperature in Delhi was 35.2 degrees Celsius, the city's highest temperature in June since 1969, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
In the last two days, 22 patients came to the centrally managed RML Hospital. There have been five deaths and 12 to 13 patients are on ventilators.
“The victims had no illness. When such people arrive at the hospital, their core body temperature is recorded and if it is found to be greater than 105 degrees Fahrenheit and there is no other cause, they are diagnosed with heat stroke. is declared a patient.” A senior hospital official said.
The official said that those who suffer from heat stroke are termed as 'suspected heat stroke'. The Delhi government has a committee that later verifies the deaths.
To ensure quick cooling of the body, the hospital has set up a first-of-its-kind heat stroke unit.
“The unit has cooling technology and patients are kept in baths filled with ice and water. When their body temperature drops below 102 degrees Fahrenheit, they are monitored,” the official said.
“If they are stable, they are shifted to the ward. Otherwise, they are put on ventilator. Most of the admitted patients are labourers,” he added.
60 suspected heatstroke patients came to Safdarjung Hospital, including 42 who were admitted. The hospital reported six deaths, including a 60-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man.
Four patients have died due to suspected heat stroke in the last two days at LNJP Hospital.
“There were two deaths on Tuesday and two more on Wednesday due to suspected heat stroke. There are 16 heat stroke patients who have been admitted,” a hospital official said.
One of the victims, aged around 39, died on June 15 during treatment. He was a motor mechanic who collapsed while working at his shop in Janakpuri. He was brought in with high fever.
Talking about the symptoms of heat stroke, a senior hospital official said patients sometimes collapse due to dehydration.
He added that he was also suffering from a very high fever, which caused the body temperature to reach 106 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
30 to 35 cases of heat stroke are being reported daily in the outpatient department of Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
“These include conditions like heat cramps and heat exhaustion,” said Dr Atul Kakar, chairperson of the hospital's department of internal medicine.
“This increase in cases highlights the importance of public awareness of heat prevention measures, including staying hydrated, seeking shade during peak sun hours and understanding the signs of heat-related distress. Health Care Providers Those doing so are vigilant, ensuring prompt and effective treatment to minimize the impact of rising temperatures on public health,” he added.
The heat wave is leading to an increase in the prevalence of lupus, which affects the skin, joints and other organs, including the kidneys. People who have lupus often experience flare-ups and worsening symptoms as the temperature rises.
Six to 10 cases of lupus were detected due to the prolonged heat wave. SLE or lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own systems are targeted, resulting in the destruction and damage of multiple organs. It mainly affects women and that too in the childbearing age between 15 and 45 years, said Dr Lalit Dogal, a senior consultant in rheumatology and clinical immunology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
Meanwhile, the police said they have been receiving calls regarding unnatural deaths of security guards, beggars or the underprivileged.
“The exact reason behind the death can be known only after the post-mortem. But there is no doubt that we are receiving calls regarding death from all districts of Delhi,” said a senior police officer.
“So far, we have come to know that around 50 people have died in different parts of Delhi. We have started investigating the matter and our teams have sent the bodies to various hospitals for post-mortem,” he added. Reports are awaited,” he added.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without text editing.