he searing heat wave of the past fortnight has left over a dozen people dead in Khammam district.
Worst-affected were those engaged in works involving direct exposure to the harsh sunlight, as was evident from the death of two farm labourers and a Postal Department employee among others.
A 108 ambulance pilot (driver) of Thallada died of heat-related complications even while undergoing treatment at a hospital here 10 days ago.
Deaths due to the searing heat were reported from Tekulapalli, Madhira, Raghunadhapalem, Kamepalli, Mulkalapalli, Venkatapuram and other mandals in the past few weeks.
Although official reports put the toll thus far in the district at 5, according to District Revenue Officer B. Srinivasa Rao, it is believed to be much higher.
He said all reported incidents due to heat were being examined by divisional-level committees as sunstroke victims are entitled for a compensation of Rs. 50,000 under ‘Apadhbandhu’ scheme.
With temperatures hovering around 40 degree Celsius in most parts, hospitals in major towns have seen a spurt in such cases.
Day temperatures continued to hover at four to five degrees above normal in open cast mines in the Kothagudem coal belt region. The searing heat in coal mining areas has prompted the Singareni Collieries Company Limited to initiate a health awareness campaign and distribution of ORS packets at pit-heads of OCPs in coal belt region.
Campaign launched
Karimnagar Special Correspondent writes: Blistering heat is sweeping through the district with the mercury crossing 43 degrees Celsius has reportedly claimed 42 lives, most of them elderly, through the month of March. However, official reports state that only two people, in Bejjanki and Dharmaram mandals, died.
A three-member committee comprising a Medical Officer, Tahsildar and Sub-Inspector of Police is said to be looking into sunstroke-related cases.
Despite the searing heat, there are no reports of patients being admitted to hospitals. District Medical & Health Officer Dr. A. Rajesham said they had sensitised all the medical fraternity about the dos and don'ts when they come across sunstroke-related cases.
A campaign to educate people on how to protect themselves apart, about five lakh oral rehydration salts (ORS) were given to medical staff on the field to be distributed among farm labour, besides an additional two lakh ORS packets each are to be distributed at the primary health centres and at the district headquarters.
Hot winds make it worse
Adilabad Special Correspondent adds: The summer so far in the district is characterised by the intensity of heat that has led to dislocation in normal life, in the form of a few sunstroke-related deaths that were however unconfirmed.
Resident Medical Officer at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad, Dr. D. Vinay Kumar said no sunstroke death has occurred in the hospital.
“There are a few cases of dehydration that were reported but the reason are not the climate,” he pointed out. Deaths were reported from the rural areas too where the intensity of the heat is felt more, due to lack of vegetation.
In-charge of the Agriculture Research Station (ARS) here, D. Mohan Das said the intensity is such that if the maximum temperature is 42 degrees Celsius, it felt like 45 degrees Celsius, with hot winds blowing through the afternoons making it worse.
On Tuesday, a maximum of 43.2 degrees Celsius was recorded at the ARS despite cloudy weather.
Shortage of drinking water
Warangal Special Correspondent writes: Severe heat wave conditions coupled with acute drinking water shortage is giving tough time to people here.
Though temperature ranging around 37 degrees Celsius could be quite normal, the hot winds were resulting in exhaustion and dehydration.
About 10 deaths were reported in the past month due across the district. Worst-affected are the agricultural labour in rural parts.
The usual 40 degree centigrade in April month was recorded in March this year indicating the severity of summer season. District collector Vakati Karuna said a massive campaign was launched to sensitise people over the do’s and don’ts.
The severity of the summer also led to a drastic fall of ground water level below 13 metres in Chennaraopet, Wardhannapet, Mahabubabad, Thorrur, Maripeda mandals, among others.
Government has declared 11 mandals of the total 51 mandals as drought-hit and embarked on tackling the unemployment and drinking water shortage issues.
Meanwhile, ground water expert Prof K V Jayakumar of NIT said the weather predictions indicate an early monsoon and normal rainy season.
“Going by the movement of winds from Southern hemisphere towards north, we are likely to get monsoon in Kerala coast in last week of May that indicates a normal rainy season,” he explained.
Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: Temperatures between 41 and 43 degrees Celsius in the past week has sent alarm bells ringing in the district. Though two deaths were reported, officials attribute them to reasons other than sun stroke.
However, primary health centres (PHC) have been receiving patients with symptoms-related sun stroke like dry tongue, unable to speak properly and skin becoming dry. The impact of the heat is being felt more at places like Alladurg, Naryanakhed and Zaheerabad.
As a precaution, the administration made about 5 lakh ORS available free and they were placed at bus stands, hospitals, PHCs, anganwadis and in some pan shops too at some places.
“People are advised not to take aerated drinks as they were harmful due to chemicals. Instead, take butter milk, lemon water mixed with sugar and salt,” Dr. Amar Singh, District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO), told The Hindu .
(Reporting by P. Sridhar, K.M. Dayashankar, S. Harpal Singh, Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao and, R. Avadhani)
Besides a campaign to educate people on how to protect themselves, oral rehydration salts (ORS) are being distributed to farm labour
