Sundargarh/ Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts reported 12 and 6 cases of alleged sunstroke deaths respectively, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office Friday informed.
The SRC mentioned this in an advisory asking people to remain alert in view of IMD’s forecast for heatwave conditions in Odisha for the next five days.
SRC further added that post-mortems are being conducted and after that the cause of deaths will be confirmed.
As of date, five sunstroke deaths have been confirmed (Balasore-1, Dhenkanal-1, Mayurbhanj-1, Sonepur-1 and Bolangir-1), SRC added.
SRC in its statement said that IMD Bhubaneswar has intimated that 19 stations (Jharsuguda, Titilagarh, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Malkangiri, Sonepur, Bhawanipatna, Bolangir, Hirakud, Rourkela, Nuapada, Boudh, Sundargarh, Phulbani, Angul, Talcher, Keonjhar, Paralakhemundi and Rayagada) recorded highest day temperature above 40 degree Celcius. The heatwave conditions are likely to continue for the next five days.
SRC advisory:
- Heat is a major health concern for the general public exposed to it and vulnerable people (viz: infant, elderly, pregnant women and sick people).
- It is advised to the public to take precautionary measures for hot weather while going outside during peak hours of the day (around 11.00 AM -3.00 PM).
- Avoid prolonged heat exposure.
- Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes.
- Cover your head, use a wet cloth, hat or umbrella while going out during peak hours.
- Drink sufficient water even if not feeling thirsty to avoid dehydration.
- Use ORS, homemade drinks like lassi, torani (rice water), sugarcane juice, lemon water, buttermilk, etc. to re-hydrate the body.
- Workers should avoid direct sunlight during the peak hours.
- Strenuous jobs should be scheduled at cooler times of the day.
- Increasing the frequency and length of rest breaks for outdoor activities.
- Pregnant workers and workers with medical conditions should be given additional attention.
- Doctors should advise people on heatwave precautions and keep hospitals in a state of readiness.
- Advise no work from 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM.
- Ask all buses to carry drinking water, ORS and ice cubes with them. They also need to ask people to wear shoes, sandals and carry an umbrella, water and follow all other necessary measures.
Ashutosh Kulkarni, additional district magistrate of Sundargarh, said currently 10 heatstroke patients are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Rourkela, while 23 others are admitted to Rourkela Government Hospital, all in stable condition.
Jharsuguda chief district medical officer Jayakrushna Nayak said six unnatural death cases have been reported in the district, with ongoing post-mortem examinations to determine if they were due to heatstroke.
Director of public health, Nilakhanta Mishra, announced the dispatch of a special team to Rourkela to investigate the deaths.
Preliminary investigations indicate that most sunstroke deaths occurred due to work during peak hours, primarily affecting labourers and truck drivers.
District administrations have been instructed to probe these deaths, with strict warnings against engaging workers during peak hours, backed by the Disaster Management Act. District collectors have been tasked with ensuring access to drinking water and raising awareness about the heatwave.
PNN & Agencies