Extra care prevents heat wave deaths

For the last ten days as summer temperatures have soared, and the number of deaths from the heatwave have steadily climbed into hundreds all over the country, Delhi has seen a public outcry over the water and power cuts that have bedevilled the city. But curiously, doctors in the capital are surprised the toll has not been higher than it is.

There is one officially recorded death, with most of the victims from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan in the west.

The heat wave that is currently searing the capital is the worst in eight years. Delhi's frazzled citizens have refused to miss a step, protesting the water shortages and power cuts that mark the onset of every summer, but largely stoic in the face of government ineptitude compounded by Mother Nature's fury.

Despite the mercury steadily climbing and clearing the 45 degree benchmark for the past several days, many of the capital's rich and poor have adjusted their working hours so that they can beat the beat.

While the more affluent head for Delhi's glitzy clubs and private swimming pools to cool off, the working class and the underprivileged have little choice but to resort to more simple measures – covering their heads and faces for protection from the sun as they traverse roads and pavements in the baking heat.

But says R. Malhotra, a doctor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, "The number of cases of heat strokes have come down drastically this year. There are very few cases of dehydration and the reason could either be better awareness or else people have become immune to heat."

According to him over the last two-three years, the figures of heat stroke have been constantly coming down. But there is no doubt that the first victims of any such extreme weather condition are the daily wage earners, rickshaw pullers, hawkers and the homeless who invariably suffer sunstroke and dehydration.

Delhi reported its first heat wave death a couple of days ago when an unidentified man was found unconscious at Pragati Maidan, near Central Delhi. He was taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where he was declared dead. Police believe that the man could have died due to the heat since there were no injuries on his body.

Says Pammi Singh who stays in a shanty at Ganesh Nagar in East Delhi, "We have no other choice but to work, as we can't let our families die of hunger." The nearly 400 residents of the 25 shanties at Ganesh Nagar are all migrants from Chhittorgarh, Rajasthan. The families have been living in this sprawling collection of hutments for the past 20 years, with most working in iron foundries.

Kamlesh, who also lives in the shanty, said: "Last year there were four deaths in our area. But this time we have been taking extra care of the elderly and children." As in other parts of the city, the area suffers from a severe water shortage in the summer.

"There is only one source of water – one solitary tap – for the residents to share. And throughout the day and night people take turns in filling water. But when there is no supply, the women here have to walk a few kilometres ahead to fetch water."

Despite the hot wind blowing all day, several vendors continue to be out and about, their push carts brimming with green vegetables.

One of the vendors, Lakhpat, said: "I cannot afford to sit at home as I have a family of four to feed. But I venture out early and return home by 11am. My second round starts from 5pm to 9pm. This much is sufficient to earn for the day."

Most vendors carry plastic water bottles with them. "We have to be careful," says Ramesh. "Heat coupled with humidity causes dehydration. And we all know that results in death."

The awareness comes from a television programme he had watched last year on Doordarshan.

The water shortage has affected the posh South Delhi suburbs more than the rest of the city this year. While the poor and middle class go about their work with generally no complaints, residents of several areas in South Delhi took to streets protesting disruption in water supply.

Several areas in the city are facing power cuts extending from one hour to five hours and furious mobs attacked the local electricity supply offices.

As the temperature remains in scorching range, the Indian Meteorological Department does not foresee any respite from heat in the coming days. According to weathermen monsoon is unlikely to hit Delhi before the first week of July.