Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], April 23 : A person died and as many as 124 others were hospitalised because of heat-related illnesses across 16 districts in Odisha.
He added that one death related to heatstroke was reported in the Balasore district.
"All the deaths have to be thoroughly investigated through a joint inquiry. We have been spreading awareness on heat-related illnesses from the beginning. We are running a campaign and trying to communicate about dos and don'ts with people through the media," he said.
He stated that last year, heat wave conditions in Odisha prevailed for 14 days.
Speaking about preparedness amid the prevailing heatwave, he said, "We have arranged beds and have stocked up adequately on drugs and medicines. We have trained our doctors to treat heat-related patients."
Significantly, the maximum temperatures in some districts have crossed 45.2 °C this summer.
Earlier on Saturday, as Odisha continued to be in the grip of a heatwave, the Met department held out no immediate hope of a respite as it forecast the maximum daytime temperature to hit 45°C over the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, parts of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh also continued to be in the grip of a sultry spell on Saturday. In Varanasi and the adjoining regions of Purvanchal, the maximum daytime temperature reached close to 43°C, the IMD reported.
A heatwave, sometimes described as extreme heat, is a period of abnormally hot weather.
It is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, typically with high temperatures and often accompanied by high humidity. A heatwave is usually measured relative to the usual climate in the area and normal temperatures for the season.