Over 100 heat stroke cases in a month

In an alarming state, cases of people suffering from heat stroke has touched the mark of 100 since 15 March.

However, the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) brings some good news for harried Nagpurians. It has predicted a drop in temperature for the next two-three days as a result of thunderstorm and heavy rains in the city.

The data collected from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) showed that till April 15, 100 patients of heat stroke, severe dehydration and related issues have been reported at the municipal and government hospital.

It may be noted that last year, a total of 364 heat stroke cases were registered by NMC during the period of April-June.

In 2016, 438 and in year 2017, around 375 cases of heatstroke were registered. Experts are predicting even extreme hot weather in coming weeks.

Dr Sarita Kamdar, Health Officer, NMC said that they activated Heat Action Plan (HAP) after a meeting with additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi, recently, and all the concerned officers.

Noted that after seeing the success of the HAP in Ahmedabad, Maharashtra public health department started a similar plan in Nagpur in 2016.

In the HAP, in year 2016, NMC installed 429 sources of water across city, 530 in 2017 and 487 in 2018.

“For the first time since the implementation of HAP, we distributed green nets to around 51 hospitals, 10 zonal offices, government hospitals etc. Along with this, the cold wards at three of the NMC IPD – Pachpaoli, Imamwada Isolation Hospital and Indira Gandhi Medical Hospital at Gandhi Nagar – have begun,” she said.

For the functioning of cold wards, we have provided all the necessary facilities, including drugs, coolers etc. at the hospitals, said Dr Kamdar.

NMC also sent letters to Maha Metro, Central Railway, South Eastern Central Railway, private hospitals, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and others to provide green cloths and arrange drinking water at railway stations, bus stops, hospitals, schools and other public places to prevent sunstroke during summer.

Regarding the same, working of construction labourers at the respective sites between 1pm to 3pm is declared to be prohibited.

Besides, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has been integral in heat wave preparedness efforts. The IMD now provides a 5-day forecast to over 100 cities in India. With this, NMC can issue a pre warning in case of the prediction for heat wave.