Bhubaneswar: As many as 99 people died of suspected heatstroke in Odisha between May 31 and June 2 as a severe heatwave swept many parts of the state during the last few days.
With this, the total suspected heatstroke death toll in Odisha during this summer season rose to 141, of which 26 cases have been confirmed to be sunstroke taking into account the post mortem and joint inquiry by revenue and medical officials.
During the inquiry, the District Administrations have found that eight death cases are not due to the heat stroke while 107 alleged cases are pending with the concerned collectors for inquiry, sources said.
According to a report of office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), out of 99 suspected sunstroke death cases reported in between May 31 and June 2, 20 cases have been confirmed by the collectors taking into account the post mortem and joint inquiry while two other cases have been reported not due to sun stroke. Investigation is under process for the remaining 77 death cases.
Similarly, till May 30 of this summer, 42 persons have died due to suspected heat-related illness, of which six cases were confirmed due to heatstroke and 6 others died for some other reasons. The joint inquiry is pending in other 30 heat-related death cases.
Due to prevailing dry conditions in the state and strengthening of northwesterly dry winds in middle & upper level of the atmosphere, the day temperature would be above normal by 3-5 degrees Celsius at many places over the districts of interior Odisha for two days, IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre said in a bulletin.
The temperature is expected to remain between 43 to 45 Degrees C in interior pockets and some districts of Odisha, it said.
The Met department has also said that hot and humid weather conditions would prevail in coastal Odisha for five four days from today.
The weather office has issued a heat wave warning for Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, and Sonepur districts for the day.
People residing in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati would experience hot and humid weather conditions today.
In view of the prevailing heatwave condition, the IMD has advised people to take precautionary measures while going outside during the peak hours of the day between 11 AM to 3 PM for next three days.