Odisha confirms 30 sunstroke deaths so far this summer

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 4 (ANI): The Odisha government has confirmed the death of 30 cases of death due to sunstroke in the state this season, the Special Relief Commissioner said.

“As cumulative, during this Summer, 147 cases of alleged sunstroke death have been reported and 30 have been confirmed, 20 cases are not due to sunstroke and 97 cases are pending with the Collectors for inquiry,” a press release from the Special Relief Commissioner said.

The Commissioner said that as of June 2, a total of 141 alleged sunstroke death cases have been reported by the Collectors out of which 26 cases are confirmed due to sunstroke and 8 cases are not due to sunstroke.

“During last 24 hours, 6 alleged sunstroke death cases have been reported by the Collectors. 4 sunstroke death cases have been confirmed and 12 cases were reported as not due to sun stroke death out of the list pending with the Districts,” the release said.

In April, 18 cities of the state recorded above 41 degrees Celsius with the coal mining region of Talcher recording the highest at 43.2 degrees Celsius, said an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the situation of the ongoing heatwave in the country and the preparedness for the onset of monsoon.

The Prime Minister was briefed that as per IMD forecasts, the heat wave is likely to continue in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

This year, the monsoon is likely to be normal and above normal in most parts of the country and below normal in parts of Peninsular India, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated.