Alarmed by the rising sunstroke deaths which rose to 43 on Sunday, Orissa government has sounded an alert across the state asking the district authorities to take steps to prevent casualties due to the searing heat.
District authorities have been asked to take quick measures to ensure prompt medical treatment to heat stroke patients and set up special control rooms to deal with such cases, officials said on Sunday.
Arrangements were made for providing drinking water in urban areas as well as in villages, while defunct tube wells are being repaired.
People have been advised to carry water and fruits while venturing out during the day as precautionary measures against dehydration and possible sunstrokes.
With temperature in most places hovering between 42 and 45 degree Celsius, government’s worries are compounded by the meteorological department’s forecast that the heat wave is likely to continue for four more days.
The presence of hot and dry westerly wind, absence of sea breeze and the change of direction of a cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal has caused this unrelenting heat in the state.