Delhi's deadly heatwave: 52 'brought dead' to government medical facilities

NEW DELHI: The scorching heat in the city has claimed five lives in the last 72 hours. The victims succumbed to heatstroke after being admitted to three hospitals.
Two deaths occurred at Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday, the hospital authorities said. A 50-year-old man, who was admitted on the evening of June 17, passed away at 2.30am the following day. A 60-year-old woman, also admitted on June 17, died at 4.40am on Tuesday.

Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital said 28 patients have been diagnosed with heatstroke.Among these, five received treatment at the hospital's out-patient department (OPD).
A 40-year-old woman labourer and a 60-year-old man who worked as a security guard succumbed to heatstroke at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, according to medical staff. The woman passed away on Monday, while the man died on Tuesday evening. As of Tuesday morning, the hospital had recorded 35 heatstroke cases.
Five people had died earlier from heatstroke, taking RML's count to seven.
Lok Nayak Hospital said that a car mechanic, aged 39 years, from Janakpuri, was admitted to the facility on June 15 with high fever of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite being placed on respiratory support, he succumbed on June 16.
Six patients were admitted to the RML Hospital on Tuesday, with four requiring ventilator support and two needing oxygen due to delayed arrival.
All the patients belonged to underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds and lacked awareness about heatstroke and its symptoms.
Medical professionals at RML Hospital reported that one of the patients admitted on Tuesday had a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit. "Please do report early as time is of essence in heatstroke management," said a doctor, stressing the importance of prompt cooling measures to preserve the patient's organs.
Lok Nayak Hospital on Tuesday admitted seven patients with heatstroke, and five needed ventilator support. Among the critical cases were two men, aged 70 years and 57 years, battling severe dehydration. Three other patients showed signs of recovery.
Doctors said that heat illnesses range from heat cramps, marked by painful muscle spasms due to salt loss from sweating, to heat exhaustion, characterised by intense sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, and nausea.
"Heatstroke in the most severe form causes confusion, high body temperature, a rapid pulse and has the potential to make a person unconscious. Without prompt treatment, involving rapid cooling and hydration, heatstroke can be life-threatening," a doctor said.