MUMBAI: The State government on Thursday directed all 36 district and 125 sub-district hospitals and medical colleges to set up special rooms to treat patients affected by the heat wave, even as five people have died of sunstroke in the past two days.
Central and North Maharashtra were worst affected by searing heat, though a low-pressure belt over the Arabian Sea-led to strong winds bringing down temperatures in coastal districts of Thane and Raigad. Wardha, Nagpur and Chandrapur recorded 43 degrees Celsius, while the sun blazed at 44.1 in Akola, Met department sources said.
Minister for Public Health Dr Deepak Sawant told the New Indian Express that normally instructions for setting up special facilities to treat heat wave victims are issued in April, but due to rising temperatures the instructions have been given early.
The minister said that two persons, one in Aurangabad and one in Solapur, have died due to heat wave in the State.
Meanwhile, Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Chandrakant Patil said that the government has issued advisory of ‘Do’s’ and ‘Dont’s’ for the public to follow in view of the heat wave like conditions in the state. He, however, added that there was no provision as such to grant compensation to people who succumb to extreme conditions.
The sudden rise in daytime temperatures in the state and the prevailing heat wave conditions figured in the Legislative Council on Thursday.
A weather advisory issued by the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) has forecasted a rise in normal daytime temperatures by 1 degree Celsius. Heat wave conditions will prevail at isolated regions in Gujarat before temperatures across the state return to normal in 2-3 days, according to the Met Department.
“Heat wave conditions remain mainly in North Gujarat region. Saurashtra-Kutch, as well as South Gujarat regions are no longer experiencing heat wave,” the Met said.