Centre’s Team To Visit States Worst-Hit By Heatwave, Suggest Urgent Steps

New Delhi:

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today chaired a high-level today to review the country’s preparedness as several states continue to reel under an intense heatwave.

Mansukh Mandaviya said a five-member team, comprising senior officials from the Health Ministry, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), will visit states worst-affected by heatwave.

He said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also been directed to suggest steps to minimise the adverse effect of heatwave conditions.

“Arrangements will be made at every level for the protection of common life. We want to ensure no one does of a heat stroke,” Mr Mandaviya said.

He said a virtual meeting will be held with the health ministers of the states reeling under severe heatwave.

The weather agency has predicted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in various regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana among others.

Over the past few days, deaths due to heat stroke have been reported from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.

In the wake of scorching heat, several states have extended their summer vacations as a response to the extreme heat.

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said that most of India would experience above-normal maximum temperatures from April to June.