Kannur/ Palakad: Two people died of heatstroke in Kerala days after the India Meteorological Department confirmed heatwave conditions in the state. The two deaths were reported from Kannur's Mahe and Palakkad's Pallathery. Mahe native Viswanathan (53) collapsed while digging well on April 26 and breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kannur. 

Although there were no burn injuries on his body, he had other symptoms of heatstroke including breathlessness. A health official confirmed that the case is being treated as a heatstroke-related incident. 

In Palakkad, a 90-year-old woman died of heatstroke on Saturday. Lakshmi, a native of Elappully, was found dead in a canal with a sunburn mark on her body. The autopsy report confirmed that the cause of death was heatstroke.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a yellow alert in Palakkad and Kannur as the maximum temperature is expected to rise to 41 degrees Celcius and 38 degrees Celsius respectively.

What is heatstroke?

Heatstroke, also known as sunstroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the body can't regulate its temperature. Symptoms include:
Body temperatures of 40°C i.e. 104°F or more,
hot, red, dry, or damp skin
fast, strong pulse
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Loss of consciousness