The sweltering heat in the Capital has claimed 41 lives in the past two days with the Delhi Police and those working with the homeless in the city confirming that on an average over 10 deaths occur daily on the streets of the city.
``The soaring temperatures and the relentless heat wave in the city have resulted in a rise in the number of unidentified bodies being recovered by the police,’’ said founder of non-government organisation Centre for Holistic Development Sunil Kumar Aledia.
This month itself (till June 10), the centre recovered 123 bodies. ``While all of these may or may not be due to natural causes, the police have confirmed that deaths have been of those living on the streets including balloon sellers, beggars, rickshaw pullers among others. Most bodies were recovered from flyovers, road sides and pavements. Also, with no one claiming these bodies they are classified under homeless,’’ added Mr. Aledia.
Eighty per cent of unidentified bodies are said to be of homeless people and the figures released by the group noted that from January this year, 1,264 unidentified bodies were recovered from the city. They include – January (250), February (188), March (221), April (242) and May (240). Last year, 288 unidentified bodies were recovered from the city during the month of June with the numbers receding the following months.
Incidentally, as per the data since January 2009, most of these deaths take place during peak cold in January or in the summer months of May, June and July.
Giving the reasons, Delhi Medical Council member Dr. Anil Bansal explained: ``The police maintains a record of the unidentified bodies on its Zonal Integrated Police Network and updates it regularly. Those living on the streets have many health issues that get worse with acute malnourishment, harsh climatic conditions and tuberculosis and other immunity compromising diseases. Dehydration, acute heat stroke and inadequate or late medical aid often prove fatal.’’
The Capital has 184 shelter homes for the poor/homeless of which 82 are permanent and 102 are porta cabins. ``Occupancy during winter months is 100 per cent with as many as 10,000 people using the facility. However, the current occupancy is 1,900 people which is mainly due to the bad facility there.
