Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today), June 10: The number of sunstroke-related deaths in Odisha this summer has risen to 41, as reported by Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra on Monday. Mishra informed the media that out of 151 suspected sunstroke deaths reported in the state, 41 have been confirmed as heatstroke-related, while joint inquiries are ongoing for 73 cases. Additionally, 26 deaths were attributed to other causes.
Mishra also noted that approximately 10 families opted to take away the bodies without postmortem examinations. “Sixteen more individuals displaying symptoms of heatstroke were admitted to various hospitals yesterday,” he added.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow warning for a heatwave until June 14. Hot and humid conditions are expected to persist in coastal districts during this period. Odisha’s Additional Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Padmanav Behera has directed the Collectors of seven districts—Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Bolangir, and Nuapada—to ensure that residents take precautionary measures due to the prevailing heatwave conditions.
In his advisory to the District Collectors, the Additional SRC emphasized, “The IMD has forecasted a gradual rise in day temperature (maximum temperature) by 2°C to 3°C over the next five days, with no significant change thereafter in many places across Odisha. Heatwave conditions, coupled with hot and humid weather, are expected to persist across the state during the next five days.”
