As Delhi and other northern regions of the country remain in the grip of weltering heat wave, the union health ministry on Wednesday issued an advisory to government-run hospitals, urging them to treat patients of heatstroke on priority.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions prevailed in parts of Uttar Pradesh, south Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and pockets of north Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and the Jammu division.
Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius over five notches above the normal. The minimum temperature in the city was 33.8 degrees Celsius, at least six notches above what is normal for this time of the year.
Hospitals in Delhi-NCR have been seeing an influx of patients with complaints of heat stroke and heat exhaustion as the mercury continued to soar. The doctors have advised the elderly and immuno-compromised patients to avoid stepping outdoors.
According to an NDTV report, 45 patients with heat-related problems have been admitted to state-run Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital since May 27. The hospital has reported nine deaths, with seven of them in the last two days.
Meanwhile, high surface temperatures are impacting flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, resulting in flight delays.
Aircraft require lift to take off and lift is affected by the density of the surrounding air, reported ANI, quoting an aviation official. The effects of hot air are felt most during takeoff and the initial climb and sometimes passengers might feel mid-air turbulence due to this reason, the official told the news agency.
Delhi has recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for 36 consecutive days.
The massive consumption of electricity triggered by the heat wave has taken the peak power demand of Delhi to an all-time high level of 8656 MW on Wednesday afternoon.
The peak power demand was on Tuesday recorded at 8647 MW, the second highest in this summer season.