Rising Heatwaves in India: Doctors Urge Safety Measures for Senior Citizens Above 60

Delhi: Officials in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh reported that at least 34 people have died in the past two days due to the extreme heat, which has led to doctors advising people over 60 to stay indoors during the day.

The deceased were all over 60 and had pre-existing medical conditions, which the extreme heat may have made worse. The fatalities happened in the Ballia district, which is about 300 kilometres southeast of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh's state capital.

According to Ballia's Chief Medical Officer Jayant Kumar, 23 deaths were reported on Thursday, and 11 more occurred on Friday. On Saturday, Kumar stated that "all the people had some ailments, and because of the intense heat, their conditions deteriorated."

Also Read: Russian involvement in Ukraine's dam collapse is "highly likely," say international experts

These patients, according to another medical official named Diwakar Singh, were admitted to Ballia's main hospital in a critical state. He added, "Elderly people are also susceptible to intense heat."

Ballia reported a maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, which is 4.7 C (8 F) above average, according to data from the India Meteorological Department.

Power outages caused by the hot summer have affected the entire state, leaving residents without running water, fans, or air conditioners. Protests have been held by many.

Also Read:  'Better stay home,' say Kyiv's gloomy bomb shelters

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, gave the populace the assurance that the government was taking all necessary steps to guarantee a continuous supply of electricity in the state. He urged people to support the government and exercise caution when using electricity.

During this intense heat, every village and every city should have a sufficient power supply. If any mistakes are made, they should be fixed right away, he said in a statement Friday night.

In most of India, the main summer months of April, May, and June are typically hot before the monsoon rains bring cooler temperatures. But over the past ten years, temperatures have increased. The nation typically experiences severe water shortages during heat waves, with tens of millions of its 1.4 billion residents lacking access to running water.

Also Read:  Images of the attack in which Americans were pushed down a slope are sought by German police

According to a study by the academic organisation World Weather Attribution, which investigates the causes of extreme heat, a searing heat wave that hit parts of South Asia in April was at least 30 times more likely as a result of climate change.

In April, the heat in Mumbai, India's financial centre, led to the deaths of 13 people at a government event and forced some states to close all schools for a week.

 

Related News

Join NewsTrack Whatsapp group