Health Minister chairs high level meeting as Orange Alert issued in multiple States

A high-level meeting to review the preparedness of the country's public health services for heat waves was chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the national capital on Tuesday. Also present at the meeting were Dr. V. K. Paul, Member (Health), Dr. Rajiv Bahl, NITI Aayog, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), along with experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College on Monday reported two deaths that occurred amid high temperatures in Bihar's Gaya district. A total of 58 patients were admitted to Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College that day. Due to the prevailing heat wave, Patna District Municipality has suspended all academic activities up to Class 12 in Patna. The directive is valid until June 24.

According to IMD scientist Naresh Kumar, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana will experience temperatures as high as 40 to 45 degrees in the coming days. “Heat wave continues in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. An orange alert has been issued in these parts,” he said.

Odisha's Sonepur recorded a maximum day temperature of 45.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday. The day's maximum temperature was 44.6 degrees Celsius in Bhubaneshwar, which was 9.7 degrees Celsius above the previous 24-hour average.