Heatwave continues to take its toll on the population as more than 16 vulnerable people died in the last 24 hours due to heat-related illness, including heatstroke in the Delhi-NCR in the grip of intense weather for the past few days. As per the data available from various hospitals in the city, many are battling with the situation.

In the last 24 hours, one patient each died at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital while five patients died at other various Government hospitals, including Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP), according to the Government hospitals officials.

At the Centre-run RML Hospital, the authorities received 22 patients in the last two days. There have been five deaths and 12 to 13 patients are on ventilator support. To give reprieve to such patients, the hospital has set up a first-of-its-kind heatstroke unit.

At the Safdarjung Hospital, there have been a total of 60 heat-stroke cases, including 42 who have been admitted. The hospital has reported six casualties, including a 60-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man who died on Tuesday.

According to LNJP Hospital authorities, four patients have died due to suspected heatstroke in the last two days. "There were two deaths on Tuesday due to suspected heat stroke and two casualties on Wednesday. There are 16 heat stroke patients admitted," said a hospital official.

One of the victims, aged around 39, died during treatment on June 15. He was a motor mechanic who collapsed while working at his shop in Janakpuri. He was brought in with high-grade fever.

It’s not only the national Capital but various pockets across the Northwest and Central India are registering some of the highest recorded temperatures in years, causing mortalities. In the adjoining region of Noida, at least 14 people reportedly died in the last 24 hours due to suspected heatstroke, according to the health department. However, post-mortem reports are awaited to ascertain the exact cause of death, said the officials.

The maximum temperature recorded in the national Capital crossed 45 degrees as Pitampura recorded the highest temperature in the city of 45.1 degrees Celsius, six notches above the normal. Safdarjung, considered as a parameter for the whole of Delhi, recorded 43.6 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature, 4.8 degrees above the normal.

Although the maximum temperatures have come down in the city, the minimum temperature, settled at 35.2 degrees today, reduces the difference between the highest and the lowest temperatures and makes the weather more uncomfortable for the Delhiites. Since June 1, Delhi has been reeling under heat wave conditions and since the past few days, witnessing warm nights. The feel like temperature hovered around 50 degrees celsius for three consecutive days as the city recorded heat index at 49.1 degrees celsius.

The day and night temperatures in the region have been consistently coming closer, even as various pockets of the country’s heat affected regions including the national capital which has recorded the highest temperatures in 13 years.

This has prompted the Union Health Minister JP Nadda to issue an advisory to all the central Government hospitals to give priority to the treatment of those admitted due to the heat wave.

While reviewing the heatwave situation and preparedness of the central government hospitals on Wednesday, he directed officials to ensure that all hospitals are prepared to provide the best healthcare to the affected and set up heatstroke units. Last month, Delhi Health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had announced that the Delhi government-run hospitals will reserve two beds each for heatstroke patients while five beds will be reserved at the LNJP Hospital.

Bharadwaj on Wednesday also conducted an emergency meeting with heads of different hospitals regarding heat stroke patients. Given that homeless people are directly exposed to the scorching sun for prolonged periods of time, he has asked the Delhi Police beat officers and patrolling teams to help in shifting homeless people, lying under open sky, to shelter homes.

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora will be communicated to ask their patrolling teams to call Ambulances in case their team spot destitute is running high fever or sick, he said while directing hospitals to scale up the beds for patients of heat related illnesses. Fresh advisory will be advertised in radio and newspapers, he said.

Delhi and its adjoining areas may see interim relief from the persistent heat due to an ongoing western disturbance in the next 24 to 48  hours.