BHUBANESWAR: Suspected
heatstroke deaths
in the state this summer rose to 141 with govt reporting 45 new
fatalities
in past 24 hours. The govt had reported 96 deaths till Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the special relief commissioner (SRC), of the total deaths, 26 have been confirmed due to heatstroke after post-mortem reports. The state govt has continued inquiry in the cases of 107 deaths.
Govt attributed eight of the deaths to causes other than sunstroke.
A total of 99 deaths were reported in the past three days. These were mainly from western parts of the state.
With heatwave sweeping many parts of the country and claiming lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation in the country, including in Odisha, on Sunday.
In Odisha,
Sundargarh
district is among the worst hit accounting for 35 suspected heatstroke deaths in three days. "Post-mortems of the bodies are being done. Six deaths have been confirmed due to sunstroke," said Ashutosh Kulkarni, additional district magistrate of Sundargarh.
Of the 20 suspected sunstroke death cases reported in Balangir district, four deaths were confirmed due to heat-related illness while enquiries were on in other cases, official sources said.
Sambalpur reported 18 suspected cases. "While post-mortem was done on seven suspected sunstroke deaths, five were confirmed due to sunstroke. Reports of 11 other cases are awaited," said Sambalpur collector Akshay Sunil Agrawal.
‘Hot & humid weather likely in coastal dists’
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast said heatwave conditions are likely to continue in five western districts of Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Sonepur and Kalahandi till Wednesday.
Hot and humid conditions will continue in coastal districts till the onset of southwest monsoon in the state, IMD sources said. Titilagarh continued to be the hottest place in the state recording 42.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday. However, some places in the state witnessed rain accompanied by lightning and strong winds.
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