Delhi hosps overwhelmed as heatwave spurs surge in heatstroke cases, deaths

CENTRE FOR HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT'’S DATA CLAIMS A TOTAL OF 192 HOMELESS PEOPLE DIED IN DELHI DUE TO A SEVERE HEATWAVE FROM JUNE 11 TO JUNE 19

- NARESH BISWANI

• DELHI RECORDS WARMEST NIGHT IN 14 YEARS AT 35.2 DEGREES CELSIUS

The death toll in the Capital continues to rise at an alarming rate. While the exact cause of these deaths will only be confirmed after post-mortem reports, preliminary observations suggest that the extreme heat wave may be responsible. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital sources have reported a significant increase in the number of bodies arriving at the hospital. Since Tuesday night, approximately 40 bodies have been brought in. In contrast, the count was around 18 to 20 from Monday night to Tuesday.

Typically, the hospital receives around 6 to 7 bodies per day. This sudden spike has raised serious concerns about the underlying cause of these deaths.

To verify the situation, the Millennium Post visited the hospital’s mortuary. The scene was overwhelming, with bodies piled on top of each other. A hospital employee revealed (off the record) that there were more than 70 bodies, attributing most of these deaths to the severe heatwave. The employee also revealed that up to four bodies were being placed on a single stretcher due to the high influx.

In the emergency department, more bodies were found, further indicating the gravity of the situation.