UP: 54 Dead, 290 Admitted To Ballia District Hospital Amid Heatwave

SK Yadav, in-charge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ballia, said that 23 patients died on June 15, 20 on June 16, and 11 yesterday.

Ballia along with the entire central and eastern Uttar Pradesh is reeling under sultry weather.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: At least 54 people have died and around 300 people have been admitted at a district hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia in the last three days due to severe heat, health officials said on Sunday.

SK Yadav, in-charge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ballia, said that 23 patients died on June 15, 20 the next day, and 11 yesterday.

"On June 15, as per records, 154 people were admitted. On this day, 23 people died due to various reasons. As of June 17, 11 people have died as per records. There are many different causes of death in this, especially in the case of people with chronic medical conditions. There is also a possibility of heatstroke...," SK Yadav said, reported ANI.

#WATCH | Ballia, UP | SK Yadav, in-charge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ballia, speaks on increasing death figures of patients due to rising heat, he said, 'On June 15, as per records, 154 people were admitted. On this day, 23 people died due to various reasons. As of… pic.twitter.com/g6mtdZHV8Z

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 17, 2023

According to the officials, most of the patients were aged above 60.

While speaking to reporters, Dr BP Tiwari, Additional Health Director, Azamgarh Circle said, "Deaths of people above 60 years are increasing. It has not been confirmed yet as to what is the cause of death. A team from Lucknow will come tomorrow to investigate the matter. Another aspect is that due to excessive heat or extreme cold, the figures of death of patients with respiratory and other diseases increase."

According to news agency IANS, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe into the deaths.

A senior government spokesman said, "Uttar Pradesh government has launched a probe into the deaths. Two director level officers from Lucknow have been sent to the district."

The Chief Medical Superintendent of Ballia district hospital, Diwakar Singh, has been transferred, the official said.

On Saturday, Singh had said that the district has been reeling from the sweltering heat. "Increased heat poses a problem for all. But in such weather conditions, the problem increases more for the people suffering from diseases like blood pressure, bronchial asthma, as these ailments aggravate."

Ballia along with the entire central and eastern Uttar Pradesh is reeling under sultry weather.

On Saturday, the district recorded a maximum temperature of 43 degree C, five degrees above normal and a relative humidity of 25 per cent, aggravating the impact of heat.

According to India Meteorological Department, Ballia recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2 degree C (also five degrees above normal) on June 16, and 42 degree C on June 15.

According to the Met department's forecast, the district is likely to witness a high 43 degree C on Sunday.