Bengal reels under heatwave, two more dead

The heatwave claimed two more lives in Howrah and Malda on Friday.

As per the meteorological department’s prediction, there would be “severe heatwave” in districts including Bankura, Birbhum and Burdwan while there will be “heatwave” in West Midnapore, Nadia, Murshidabad, Howrah, Purulia and Malda in the next two days with the maximum temperature above 40 degree Celsius.

In Malda on Friday, Rabbiul Nadab fainted in a market place. Nadab, who is a rickshaw puller, went to a nursing home at Makdumpur in Malda Town. He was ill for the past few days and that is the reason why he came to the nursing home for a check-up and he was returning without any treatment as the doctor was not available. He fainted after walking for around five minutes from the nursing home. He asked for help and local people took him inside a road side tea stall and sprinkled water on his face.

He told the people the name of his brother-in-law and asked them to contact him from his mobile phone. Some policemen from the local police station were also present at the spot. They took him to Malda Medical College and Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The victim’s brother-in-law Seikh Chandu said that the doctors told him that Nadab died due to heat stroke.

In a similar incident on Belilious Road at Shibpur in Howrah, a middle aged unidentified man suddenly fainted and fell on the road. He was asking for water. Local people gave him water and took him to Howrah District Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Doctors claimed that he also died due to heat stroke.

The temperature on Friday in the city was around 39 degree Celsius coupled with high humidity levels that made the situation even more unbearable. There is no prediction of rainfall in the city yet. The temperature in districts was more compared to that of Kolkata. With the meteorological department’s prediction of continuation of such weather for the next two days, doctors have advised to avoid coming out from office or home in afternoon. It is must to use umbrellas, caps and sunglasses if it’s too essential to move out under the scorching sun.

It is also advised to sprinkle water on face if one feels uneasy and must drinking ample quantity of water is a must. One must take rest for some time in a cool place if they don’t feel well while walking on road. At the same time, it is also better to avoid eating outside food. Yesterday, two persons including a Booth level officer who was deployed at Mongolkot in Burdwan died after suffering heat stroke. He was declared dead after being taken to the hospital. In another incident a middle aged person Sundar Lal, a sweeper in Railway died after he suffered a heat stroke in Howrah. Police said that the victim a resident of Tetulia area in Howrah started off on his bicycle and he was going to join his duty. On his way to office near East West Bypass he fell from the bicycle. Local people found Lal lying in an unconscious state. He was taken to Howrah Zilla hospital where he was declared brought dead.