Heatstroke Claims 19 Lives in Bihar, Medical Team on Alert

Patna: As Bihar continues to reel under scorching heat with several places recording temperatures of over 44 degree Celsius in the past few days, as many as 19 people have died due to heat in the state.

In Aurangabad, heatwave has claimed 12 lives so far and more than 20 people were admitted to different hospitals, Aurangabad Health department said.

Bihar Reels Under Searing Heat

While four people died in Kaimur district, including a worker on election duty, on Thursday (May 30) and three people died in Arrah in Bhojpur district after suffering from extreme heatwaves in the region. According to sources, a total of about 40 people had come to the hospital on Thursday who had been affected by heat stroke. 

"Among them, two persons, including polling personnel, had come to me who died due to heat stroke. 30 to 40 people, including police personnel, are undergoing treatment. Many have been sent home after treatment, while others are undergoing treatment," news agency ANI quoted Dr Sahil Raj, a doctor at Kaimur's Mohania sub-divisional hospital, as saying. Dr Raj said that the worker on election duty, identified as Shahnawaz Khan, was a teacher by profession, and had returned home after election duty. Khan kept sleeping at home and eventually died, he said. 

In Buxar, the toll in the heatwave tragedy stands at three. The deceased include a youth who was found dead on the roadside in the Sikraul police station area. Local people said that he died due to sunstroke. 

In the wake of the extreme weather, the state government had ordered the closure of all private and government-run schools, coaching institutes and anganwadi centres till June 8.

The decision came after dozens of students fainted due to the searing heat at a school. The conditions of the students deteriorated to the extent that they had to be hospitalised. 

Medical Team on Alert in Bihar

The medical teams in the state have been put on alert. Police and mobile medical teams are on alert in all hospitals. Amid the extreme temperature, the state will go to polls in the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Adequate measures will be taken to carry out the polls process amid the sweltering heat.