The death toll in Aurangabad’s ongoing heatwave crisis climbed to 17 on Friday, following the deaths of five individuals at a local hospital due to suspected heatstrokes, according to an official statement.
District Magistrate Shrikant Shastri confirmed the fatalities, indicating that the exact causes of death will be determined after post-mortem examinations. “Five people admitted to the hospital died. When we receive the post-mortem report, we will know the exact reason,” he stated. Shastri assured that efforts are underway to improve hospital arrangements for heatstroke cases and mentioned the free distribution of ORS to mitigate the effects of the heat.
Aurangabad, along with several other districts in Bihar, is experiencing record-breaking temperatures as part of an unprecedented heatwave. Hospitals across the district have reported a surge in admissions related to heat-related illnesses.
The intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees Celsius, has disrupted daily life in parts of northwest and central India. In Bihar alone, 24 heat-related deaths have been reported. In Kaimur district, four individuals, including a worker on election duty, succumbed to the extreme heat on Thursday. Additionally, three deaths were reported in Arrah, Bhojpur district, due to similar conditions.
In response to the escalating heat crisis, the Bihar government ordered the closure of all private and government-run schools, coaching institutes, and Anganwadi centres until June 8. This decision came after numerous students fainted due to the severe heat.
Bihar is currently in the final stages of the Lok Sabha elections, with the last phase scheduled for Saturday, June 1. The extreme weather has added a challenging dimension to the ongoing electoral process.
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