Rajasthan heat toll 19, no respite soon

An unprecedented heat wave continues to ravage the desert state of Rajasthan claiming 19 lives so far. After breaking records all over the state Thursday, the temperature continued to hover around 50 degrees Celsius in Churu and Phalodi.

What is worrying is that the worst does not seem to be over yet. The maximum temperatures have been witnessing a rising trend and are above normal by at least 7-8 degrees. The weather department is predicting that the ongoing heat wave will continue for the next three days. Hot winds are also keeping night temperatures above normal by several degrees.

Private weather forecaster Skymet says the ongoing extremely hot weather conditions can be attributed to hot and dry north-westerly winds blowing from neighbouring Pakistan, which is experiencing even hotter conditions at present.

Moreover, the geographical features of Rajasthan are such that it absorbs more heat. There are a lot of dust particles in the atmosphere, which do not let radiation to escape, thus captivating the heat.

The blistering heat wave has claimed 19 lives, with the maximum 16 deaths reported from Jodhpur where nine unidentified bodies were found in last two days whose deaths were attributed to heat stroke. The latest casualty was a constable in rural police line in Jodhpur who collapsed during roll call in the evening. He was rushed to hospital but died on the way.

In fact, mortuaries at the two major government hospitals have run out of space to keep bodies. “Some freezers are under repair and will start working soon till then we have arranged ice to keep bodies safe,” said Dr P C Vyas, Superintendent of MGH Hospital. The scorching heat has been particularly severe on newborns in as kidney of six babies has failed because of dehydration.