Five dead in Delhi, 10 in Noida as brutal heatwave scorches North India

Five people have died in Delhi in the past 72 hours,The victims died of heatstroke at three hospitals. In Noida, too, more than 10 people have died in the last 24 hours.

Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital have reported one death each. Around 36 people affected by the heatwave are admitted at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.Three people died at Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP), including a car mechanic who passed away due to heat stroke on June 16. The mechanic was admitted to the hospital on June 15 with a high fever of 106 degrees.

A 70-year-old man from Bihar who had missed his train and was roaming in the station was another victim of heat stroke.

Over seven people have been admitted to LNJP hospital with symptoms of high fever touching 106 to 107 degrees. Of them, five have been kept on ventilator and three of these patients are above 65 years of age.

LNJP Hospital managing director Dr Suresh Kumar said most of the people affected by the heatwave were labourers or rickshaw pullers and most of them were above 60 years of age.

Most of these patients are suffering from electrolyte deficiency, heat stroke, fever of more than 105 degrees and extreme dehydration.

The number of patients suffering from heat stroke is increasing on an average in different private hospitals and small clinics in Delhi.

Dr. Gaurav Kumar, who runs a clinic in Paharganj, said the number of people suffering from the heatwave has increased more than twice in the last month. He said most of those affected were rickshaw pullers or daily labourers.

However, Delhi and its adjoining areas may see interim relief from the persistent heat due to an ongoing western disturbance in the next 24–48 hours.