This year heat stroke has taken the lives of 374 people so far, most deaths in UP and Bihar

374 people have lost their lives in the last five months due to extreme heat and heat stroke in the country. The central government has given this information. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said that between March 1 and July 27, a total of 374 deaths have occurred due to heat stroke in the country while 67,637 cases of heat stroke have been reported.

According to the news agency report, as per the data of National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance, Uttar Pradesh is the most affected by heat stroke. So far 52 deaths have occurred here while Bihar is at second place. 37 people have died due to heat stroke in Bihar. At the same time, 26 deaths have been recorded in Odisha and 25 in Delhi.

Minister Anupriya Patel said in a written reply that states and union territories have been submitting data on heat stroke cases and deaths on the Integrated Health Information Portal from 2023.

Every year in early March, the Centre issues advisories to the health departments of states and Union Territories to ensure different awareness campaigns, preparedness and response measures.

Anupriya Patel said that this year, on February 29, a guideline was issued by the Secretary of the Union Health Ministry to the Chief Secretaries of all the states and Union Territories for measures to strengthen the preparedness of the health department and increase community awareness.