Delhi records 22 deaths in 24 hours from heatwave

New Delhi: Over the past 24 hours, at least 22 individuals have died from suspected heat-related illnesses here at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and LNJP Hospital.

The national capital has been battling searing temperatures for several days. Hospitals in Delhi have seen a rise in the number of casualties and patients owing to heatstroke as well. While light rain brought some temporary relief on Thursday morning, medical professionals warn the risk of heatstroke remains significant.

According to officials at the Safdarjung Hospital, 33 patients suffering from heat-related illnesses were admitted. Of them 13 died in the last 24 hours, they said. The Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital received 22 patients with a suspected heatstroke in the last 24 hours out of which four have died, a hospital source said. The Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital has 17 patients admitted to its casualty ward while five patients succumbed in the last 24 hours at the ward, an official source said. Meanwhile, at the city's main crematorium -- Nigambodh Ghat -- the number of cremations has seen a spike. Officials, however, could not confirm if the deaths were related to heatstrokes.

On Wednesday, 142 corpses were brought to the Nigambodh Ghat for cremation, which is nearly 136 percentage points higher than the daily average of 50-60 bodies, Suman Gupta, general secretary of the Nigambodh Ghat Sanchalan Samiti, which manages operations at the crematorium, told PTI. The number was higher on Tuesday as well when 97 bodies were cremated at the city's oldest and largest crematorium. "Usually, around 50-60 bodies are brought in here daily for cremation. The number has been higher in the last few days. Today, 35 cremations have taken place since morning and the number may go up by the end of the day," Gupta said.
(With PTI Inputs)