Jamshedpur: The East Singhbhum health department has issued fresh directives to local hospitals to ramp up arrangements for treating heatwave cases as extreme weather conditions grip the region. The combination of a sweltering sun and high humidity has severely affected daily life, with local hospitals reporting a sharp spike in patients showing symptoms linked to extreme heat.
Between May 19 and May 22, around 30% of all hospital admissions came with complaints of dehydration, high fever, heavy sweating, fatigue, vomiting and dizziness. “Out of the 7,000-plus cases reported at hospitals on each of the last four days, 20% to 25% were related to heatwave symptoms,” a health department official said.
District civil surgeon Dr Sahir Pall clarified that while no patient has been officially classified as a confirmed heatwave victim yet, there is a clear surge in individuals suffering from heat-induced illnesses.
To tighten monitoring, district surveillance officer Dr Asad directed all medical facilities, including community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs), to immediately report clinical details of such patients to the integrated disease surveillance programme district headquarters. “All patients admitted with hyperthermia-related symptoms this May must be reported to the IDSP,” Dr Asad said.
The surveillance department is also investigating a suspected heatwave casualty in the Mango area. On Thursday afternoon, a daily wage worker in his late 20s collapsed while walking along a thoroughfare in Dimna and died while being rushed to hospital. Officials said a detailed medical examination is required before it can be officially declared a heatwave death.
Hospitals have been ordered to treat heatwave cases as a top priority and ensure readiness for emergency care. Facilities must maintain adequate stocks of water spray bottles, ice packs, refrigerated intravenous (IV) fluids, ORS packets and electrolyte replenishment kits for immediate treatment.
About the Author: B Sridhar, based in Jamshedpur, covers the entire Kolhan region including East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan, reporting on topics such as left wing extremism, city life, urban policies and other wide-ranging issues.
