Different sources come to different numbers, total of numbers reported by individual states come to 448
With almost the entire country reeling under a heat wave and monsoon delayed or paused or sluggish in many parts of India, the actual toll of unprecedented high temperatures over unprecedented periods of time remains a mystery.
The ministry of health and family welfare government of India put the number at 143. But a total of the numbers reported by individual states comes to a far higher 448. The Times of India estimated that the count stands at 209. Sources in the Delhi government say that in the capital alone which has seen the longest period ever of 45 plus temperatures (the “feel-like” temperature which takes into account humidity stood at 50 degrees on a few days) alone has seen 60 deaths while also reeling under a severe water crisis. Delhi minister Atishi is sitting on a fast demanding that Delhi’s full quota of water be released by neighbouring states.
Meanwhile health minister J P Nadda has already held one review meeting on heat deaths and the ministry of health has issued detailed guidelines to states on various aspects including timely dissemination of alerts issued by the meteorological department, health sector preparedness and event planning considerations.
On health sector preparedness the guidelines ask doctors to: “Consider heat-related illnesses in health surveillance, medical management and response planning, have a general understanding of possible vulnerable population based on event type e.g. in mass sporting events exertional heatstroke may be observed, in pilgrimage related mass gathering classic heatstroke may be common, prevent heat related illness (HRIs) through provision of ORS packs, essential medicines, IV fluids, icepacks, and equipments to support management of volume depletion and electrolyte imbalance etc”
It also calls upon healthcare providers to prioritize rapid assessment and rapid cooling of severe heat-related illnesses, designate safe, accessible area for rapid whole-body cooling of heat exhaustion and heatstroke patients and identify suitable rapid cooling method based on access to water, shade, venue topography and access, procure equipments (rectal thermometer, ice boxes, ice cubes, cold water, tarp, ice coolers, fans, towels/sheets) and set-up cooling area accordingly
