Nearly 100 deaths in 3 days cause heat alarm

In Bihar, 45 people have died and Odisha reported one death till Sunday, with unconfirmed reports of 20 heat-related deaths.

Dozens of people have died in at least three states — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha — in the last three days due to exposure to intense heat, doctors in these regions have said, with weather officials separately warning that severe heatwaves will continue in many parts of the country.

Most of these deaths have been reported from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, including in UP’s Ballia where a district hospital reported at least 83 fatalities since June 11, of which 44-54 are believed to be of people whose existing illnesses turned fatal due to the high heat and humidity.

Monsoon rains, earlier forecast to arrive in the eastern region on Sunday, are delayed and expected only after June 20, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

In Bihar, 45 people have died and Odisha reported one death till Sunday, with unconfirmed reports of 20 heat-related deaths.

Chief medical superintendent (in-charge) at the Ballia hospital, Dr SK Yadav, said, “On June 15, 154 patients were admitted to the hospital, and 23 deaths occurred that day. The next day (June 16), 137 people were admitted to the district hospital and 20 deaths occurred. There were 11 deaths at the hospital on June 17.”

Separately, a report by chief medical officer Jayant Kumar sent to Ballia district magistrate Ravindra Kumar on Sunday put the number of deaths in the same period at 83. The report, however, did not specify if the deaths were due to hyperthermia or conditions linked to it.

“A total of 44 deaths occurred due to fever and other medical complications, whereas 39 deaths occurred due to various ailments and medical complications,” the report said.