M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, June 19: It’s loo (heat wave) all across Palamu which is a rain shadow district. Over the past five days mercury has been almost stable at 44 degree Celsius.
The number of out-door patients coming over to the community health centres about complaints of having symptoms of heat wave have increased five-fold in the last two days due to mercury hovering between 44 degree Celsius to 44.8 degree Celsius.
Dr Vikas Kumar, a medical officer at the sub divisional hospital, Hussainabad said, “On Sunday alone we got 10 patients having heat wave symptoms. Four of these patients were referred to the MMCH as they had multiple health complications.”
Medical officer-in-charge of the community health centre at Lesliganj, Dr Rajiv Ranjan, said, “people afflicted by loo are coming in dozens now which a few weeks ago were in a trickle.”
Garhwa Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Kumar reiterating a similar state of affairs added that 8 to 10 patients are coming every day at the Sadar hospital on an average over the past one week.
Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr Ashok Kumar said. “MMCH, Daltonganj is finding around 20 patients a day having heat stroke symptoms.”
A few of such cases have hypothermia which puts the patient in a critical condition, he said.
“Hypothermia is a medical condition wherein the body temperature is much lower than normal and this condition could even prove fatal,” he explained.
“People should consume electrolyte, coconut water and plain water as much as possible. People should also be cautious about dizziness,” he said.
Medical officer in-charge of the community health centre at Bishrampur, Dr Lily Stella, said that they have been asking people to be careful in summer.
Dr M S Ahmad of the community health centre said, “People having complaints about fever and loose motion are coming in more numbers. We are treating them accordingly.”
SP Chandan Kumar Sinha expressed concerns over traffic cops. He said the traffic cops perform the most arduous jobs in hot weather. “I have asked them to swap their duties like if 3 traffic cops are at one traffic post then they should manage it among themselves wisely,” advised Sinha.
