Several northern states including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been experiencing a soaring heatwave, causing an increase in the number of deaths suspected by severe heatstrokes. Amid the prevailing heatwave, the state governments have taken various initiatives to combat the rise in the temperature. However, almost 70 people died in just one district of Uttar Pradesh and more than 50 in Bihar due to the same.The UP government has said that the deaths are under probe and has even suspended a government doctor in Ballia for “giving a careless statement on the deaths caused by the heatwave in the district.” Meanwhile, in Bihar, the officials have accepted heatstroke as the cause of the deaths.Almost 54 people died amid heatstroke in three days in UPs BalliaIn just three days from June 16 to June 18, almost 54 suspected heatstroke deaths were reported in UPs Ballia.No reason for death was mentioned, people in troubleSpeaking to the media, a 60-year-old, Mohammed Munna said that his wife died at the Ballia district hospital after exhibiting a heatstroke-related problem on June 17, however, he has only been issued a white slip that does not even mention the cause of death. Due to this, he is now having trouble getting his wifes death certificate.He said, “I admitted my wife to the hospital on June 16 and she died at 7 am the next day. The hospital authorities gave me a slip and asked me to collect the death certificate five days later. When I went to the hospital on that date, I was asked to get an affidavit from the court. I did that, and now they have asked me to come on Saturday.”Several similar cases of not providing a valid cause of death have been reported in the UPs Ballia district. Investigation is onTaking notes from the situation, the Chief Medical Officer of Ballia district hospital, SK Yadav said, “The cause of death is under investigation. We can mention the cause of death certificates only after it is known.” While in Bihar, approximately, 50 people died amid severe heatstroke. A senior doctor from Ara Sadar Hospital, Dr Rishi said, “35 patients were brought in because of heatstroke and about 25 have died today (June 20). Most of the patients who died were elderly and had high-grade fever and heatstroke symptoms.”
