As people in the national capital and other parts of northern India continue to reel under an intense heatwave, Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital has reported 13 deaths related to Heat-Related Illnesses (HRI)in the last 24 hours. The hospital has also reported as many as 33 HRI-related cases of hospitalisations.        

Delhi’s RML hospital had reported nine deaths till yesterday. Other major hospitals in the city have also reported a spike in HRI cases.  

The Health Ministry yesterday issued an advisory for state health departments asking them to ensure preparedness and timely response in the face of above-normal maximum temperatures causing heat-related illnesses. Apart from disseminating daily heatwave warnings from the India Meteorological Department, the health ministry also urged officials to ensure the procurement of ORS packs, essential medicines, IV fluids, ice packs, and equipment for managing volume depletion and electrolyte imbalance.