High alert in Kerala after 3 suspected sunstroke deaths

Authorities in Kerala have sounded a high alert after three suspected cases of sunstroke deaths were reported from the southern state in the last two days as experts warned of soaring temperatures in the coming days.

Two deaths were reported on Sunday. State health officials said a man was found dead in his paddy field in Parasala in south Kerala while another death was reported from Payyanur in the north of the state. Police have registered cases under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for unnatural death.

Doctors, however, said the exact cause of death will be known after a post-mortem examination.

The weatherman has warned sweltering conditions in the next two days, saying the temperature is likely to go up by three to four degree Celsius in eight districts of the state.

Kerala is in the grip of a severe drought six months after the flood of the century ravaged the state, claiming the lives of more than 400 people. Experts have warned of heatwave conditions, quite unheard of in the state, will persist for more than a month.

With the mercury levels soaring, the disaster management authority has directed the state government to implement its directives strictly.

The disaster management authority has listed necessary measures for people to follow during the scorching days ahead. Since humidity levels are quite high in the state, high-temperature levels will add to the woes of people exposed to the sun.

The worried state labour department had rescheduled working hours, preventing outdoor work from 11am to 3pm until further orders and asked construction sites and farmers to comply with the order strictly.

Kerala’s health minister KK Shailaja has asked residents to follow the directions of health authorities.

Experts said the vast destruction of green cover during the August floods, difficulty in groundwater recharging due to the removal of topsoil, El Nino effect and changing construction models are to be blamed for sudden hike in temperature. If the situation continues, the state is likely to witness a scorching summer and water scarcity, they warned.