New Delhi: The prolonged heatwave sweeping across India has resulted in 143 recorded
deaths and 41,789 suspected heatstroke cases between March 1 and June 20, Health Ministry
sources reported. On June 20 alone, there were 14 confirmed and 9 suspected heatstroke
deaths, raising the toll from the previous count of 114. Uttar Pradesh has been the most
affected, reporting 35 deaths, followed by Delhi with 21 deaths, and Bihar and Rajasthan
with 17 each.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has instructed officials to visit central hospitals and ensure
they are prepared to manage the heatwave conditions. He emphasized the need for special
arrangements for heatstroke patients and a thorough assessment of recent heatstroke-related
deaths. The Health Ministry has issued an advisory for the ‘Heat Wave Season 2024,’ urging
state health departments to ensure preparedness and timely responses to extreme heat
conditions.
The advisory calls for state nodal officers under the National Programme for Climate Change
and Human Health (NPCCHH) to submit daily data on heatstroke cases and deaths from
March 1 onwards. It also stresses the importance of maintaining digital records of suspected
and confirmed heatstroke cases and deaths at the health facility level. Dissemination of the
National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses (HRI) to all districts and strengthening health
systems’ preparedness for HRI are also highlighted.
The advisory emphasizes the need to disseminate early heatwave warnings issued by the
India Meteorological Department (IMD) and to share forecasts for the next four days with
health facilities and vulnerable populations. It also directs health facilities to be prepared for
the prevention and management of severe HRI cases, ensuring the procurement and supply of
adequate quantities of ORS packs, essential medicines, IV fluids, ice packs, and equipment to
manage volume depletion and electrolyte imbalance.
Additionally, the advisory calls for the availability of sufficient drinking water at all health
facilities and the functioning of general cooling appliances in waiting and patient treatment
areas. It underscores the importance of rapidly assessing and actively cooling suspected
heatstroke cases using standard treatment protocols. Coordination with electricity distribution
companies for uninterrupted power supply to hospitals is advised to ensure the constant
operation of cooling appliances. Other recommended measures include reducing indoor heat
through cool roofs, window shading, and solarization, as well as providing shade outside
health facilities in heat-prone regions.
By implementing these measures, the Health Ministry aims to mitigate the impact of the
heatwave and ensure that health facilities are adequately prepared to handle the surge in
heatstroke cases.
