Heatwave Claims 34 Lives in Delhi in 24 Hours

New Delhi: The continued severe heatwave spell has claimed at least 34 lives in Delhi in the past 24 hours. The total count of heatstroke-related deaths in the city has now gone up to 49.

Of the 34 fresh heat-related deaths, 13 were reported from Safdarjung Hospital seven more from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, both run by the Central government, and 14 from Delhi government-run hospitals.

About 500 other patients suffering from heat-related ailments are undergoing treatment at various city hospitals. Of the 32 patients admitted at RML Hospital, 26 are on life-support systems.

Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said out of 310 heatstroke patients admitted to various city government-run hospitals, 112 have been discharged. “The condition of the remaining patients is stable,” he added.

As Delhi has been battling searing heatwave conditions over the last week, hospitals have seen a rise in the number of casualties and patients owing to heatstroke.

The Centre for Holistic Development, an NGO working for the homeless, has claimed that 192 homeless deaths were recorded in Delhi during the heatwave from June 11 to 19. Officials, however, could not confirm if the deaths were related to heatstroke.

Lieutenant-governor V.K. Saxena has directed chief secretary Naresh Kumar to immediately convey a meeting with officers of various departments to ensure adequate measures are in place for providing water and other facilities to destitute, homeless and poor. He also directed the district magistrates to visit the shelter homes and hospitals in their respective jurisdictions.

The Delhi police said they had been receiving calls regarding the unnatural deaths of security guards, beggars and underprivileged people. “The actual reason behind the deaths can only be ascertained after the autopsy,” a senior police officer said.

The city's main crematorium, Nigambodh Ghat, has also seen a spike in the number of cremations. On Wednesday, 142 corpses were brought to Nigambodh Ghat for cremation, against the daily average of 50-60 bodies, Suman Gupta, general secretary of the Nigambodh Ghat Sanchalan Samiti, which manages operations at the crematorium, said. The number was higher on Tuesday as well, when 97 bodies were cremated at the city's oldest and largest crematorium.