Fear Of Heavy Heatwave Toll As 50 Bodies Found Around Delhi In 48 Hours

An NGO working for the homeless, the Centre for Holistic Development claimed that 192 homeless deaths were recorded in Delhi due to the heat wave from June 11 to 19.

Severe heatwave has swept across the Delhi-NCR. ( Image Source :PTI )

The bodies of 50 people belonging to underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds were recovered around Delhi during the past 48 hours, said the police, as the searing heatwave sweeping the city has caused a spike in heatstroke-related casualties. 

However, police and health officials have not confirmed if all of them died of heat-related causes, reported PTI.

According to a senior police official, the body of a 55-year-old man was found at the children's park near India Gate on Wednesday and added that a post-mortem will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death. 

An NGO working for the homeless, the Centre for Holistic Development claimed that 192 homeless deaths were recorded in Delhi due to the heat wave from June 11 to 19, as per the PTI report.

The severe heatwave has caused an increased footfall of patients in hospitals across Delhi. 

In the last two days, the Centre-run RML Hospital received 22 patients while five people died and 12 to 13 patients are on ventilator support.

"The victims did not have any comorbidities. When such people come to the hospital, their core body temperature is recorded and, if it is found more than 105 degrees Fahrenheit and there is no other cause, they are declared as heatstroke patients," a senior hospital official said.

"Those who succumb to heatstroke are declared as 'suspected heatstroke'. There is a committee of the Delhi government that later confirms the deaths," the official said.

The hospital has set up a first-of-its-kind heatstroke unit to ensure immediate cooling of the body. 

"The unit has cooling technology and the patients are kept in baths filled with ice and water. When their body temperature goes below 102 degrees Fahrenheit, they are monitored," the official said.

"If they are stable, they are shifted into the ward. Otherwise, they are put on a ventilator. Most of the patients who are admitted are labourers," he added.

As per the India Meteorological Department, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius, over four notches above the normal while the night temperature was at 35.2 degrees Celsius, the city's highest in June since 1969, on Wednesday.