ROURKELA : Sundargarh district is currently grappling with an intense heatwave, leaving residents distressed and confined indoors from morning till evening. The scorching temperatures have led to a surge in hospital admissions for sunstroke-related illnesses, although no fatalities have been reported thus far.
Rourkela city and the rest of Sundargarh district have been experiencing blistering heat for several days, with temperatures soaring above 43 degrees Celsius in many areas. The Environment Engineering Department of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) recorded a maximum temperature of 43.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with the minimum at 26.2 degrees Celsius. On Friday also the maximum temperature was 43.1 degree C at Rourkela.
The district headquarters town, located approximately 100 kilometre from Rourkela, reported a maximum temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, which rose to 43 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with the minimum recorded at 24.3 degrees Celsius. Marketplaces and city streets wore a deserted look by noon, with people retreating indoors and only a few essential travellers seen wearing protective gear on the roads.
Amidst the heatwave, the availability of air-conditioned buses through the Mo Bus service provided relief to commuters, particularly women government employees and college students returning home during the peak afternoon hours.
Reports from medical facilities indicate that three individuals are currently receiving treatment for heatwave-related illnesses at the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH), while two others are admitted to the Sundargarh district headquarters hospital (SDHH).
The Sundargarh district emergency office informed a total of 28 persons from different areas including those five still under treatment at the RGH and SDHH were admitted to different hospitals for heatwave treatment since April 1. According to the DEO majority of the hospital admission cases were reported in the past few days and 23 returned home cured.