Doctors advice people to avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours as temperature soars above 44°C in Delhi
New Delhi, May 20
As intense heatwave conditions continued to grip several parts of north India, doctors and weather officials on Wednesday urged people to take precautions against heat-related illnesses, with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees Celsius in Delhi and Rajasthan.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, while parts of Rajasthan witnessed temperatures crossing 46 degrees Celsius.
Speaking to ANI, Chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Atul Kakar, said hospitals were witnessing a rise in patients suffering from heat-related conditions.
"The temperature is rising. In Delhi, it is between 45 and 47 degrees, so many patients are coming to us. They present with fever, headache, body aches, tiredness, and lethargy. These are all symptoms of heat exhaustion," Kakar said.
He added that dehydration and heat stroke were also becoming increasingly common during the ongoing heatwave. "In addition, many patients come with dehydration, and in extreme cases, heat stroke can occur. So these are the three heat-related conditions," he said.
Kakar advised people to avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours and to remain hydrated. "To prevent them, at least keep yourself covered, especially if you are going out in the sun between 12 and 3 pm. Keep taking fluids such as ORS, water, lassi, or lemon water with salt," he said.
He further cautioned that children, elderly people, and those suffering from kidney or heart-related ailments were more vulnerable to heat-related complications.
Meanwhile, Jaipur Meteorological Centre Director Radheshyam Sharma said Rajasthan was likely to continue experiencing severe heatwave conditions over the coming days.
"Over the past 2-3 days, there has been a rise in both day and night temperatures. In the last 24 hours, the highest maximum temperature of 46.3°C was recorded in Chittorgarh," Sharma told ANI.
"In some locations, the minimum night temperature has also risen above 30°C. The weather is expected to remain dry across most parts of Rajasthan in the coming days as well," he added.
Sharma further said that although a slight dip in temperature was expected over the next 48 hours, the heatwave spell was likely to persist for the next five to seven days.
— ANI
Reader Comments
My grandmother is refusing to leave the house even for her evening walk—she says it's like stepping into a furnace. The doctor's warning about children and elderly being vulnerable is spot-on. I'm making sure my family drinks ORS and buttermilk throughout the day. Also, why are we not planting more trees in Delhi? It's so obvious that the concrete jungle is making the heat worse. Every housing society should have a green patch.
I'm in Gurgaon and the AC is running non-stop from 10 AM onwards. The electricity bill is going to be sky-high this month! 😤 But seriously, the advice to avoid going out between 12-3 PM is not feasible for many of us who have jobs or errands. The government needs to ensure public transport has proper cooling and water facilities. Also, a small suggestion: people can carry a spray bottle with water to cool their face and neck—it really helps.
It's heartbreaking to read about the dehydration and heat stroke cases. I saw a news clip yesterday of a rickshaw puller in Old Delhi who was pouring water on his head just to stay conscious. 😔 The doctors' advice about lassi and lemon water is good, but I hope everyone—especially the rich—realises that this heatwave is a climate crisis warning. We need to reduce our carbon footprint. At the very least, stop using personal ACs unnecessarily and carpool.
I live in a PG in Rohini and my room gets direct afternoon sun—it's like an oven! Even with a fan, it's unbearable. The nights are no better—I can't sleep properly. The doctor mentioned that night temperature is also rising, and it's true. I've started sleeping on the floor with a wet towel on my forehead. 😂 But on a serious note, the government should provide subsidies for coolers or fans
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