Heat wave like other disasters needs to be dealt with efficiently much before it arrives. People need to be made aware of the precautions to be taken for heat wave as the preparedness can save a lot of lives,” said speakers at a seminar ‘learning from Heat Wave Response’ organised by the ActionAid here on Friday.
Inaugurating the seminar, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Dr SC Sahu explained the factors that contribute to more disasters. Rise of population in cities and other high risk areas is the main factor, he added.
Sahu also informed that from the year 1997, temperature of Bhubaneswar has been increasing. The highest temperature recorded in the city is 46.7 degree Celsius on June 5 and 6 in 2012, he informed.
“We have been organising awareness programmes and forecasting the weather seven days before, so that people can be made aware of the things. Besides, we are giving weather information to all print and electronic media regularly,” Sahu added.
ActionAid programme officer BN Durga presented case studies of heat wave affected people in the State, especially in Nuapada and Sambalpur districts.
Highlighting the findings, Durga said the aged, daily wage labourers and people from poor communities who work unprotected under the hot sun are most vulnerable to heat wave.
Many rural and peripheral health facilities are not able to deal with heat wave related cases due to failure of electricity supplies and unavailability of air conditioned room etc, he added.
He also said awareness on various schemes and compensations has not reached many places.
Deputy Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra and ActionAid Regional Manager Debabrat Patra were present among others. ActionAid programme manager Ghasiram Panda gave welcome address.