Delhi weather claims 1st life: Bihar man dies of heatstroke
A 40-year-old man from Darbhanga, Bihar died of heatstroke at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital on Wednesday—the first heatstroke related death in the national capital this summer. The victim, employed at a pipeline fittings factory in the city was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital late Monday night with a body temperature of 107°Celsius—nearly 10 degrees above normal. A doctor who attended to him said the man was living a room with no cooler or fan.
Record-breaking temperatures amid heatwave
Delhi is currently battling record-breaking temperatures amid a severe heatwave. The Mungeshpur weather station on the outskirts recorded a temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius, the highest-ever for any station in India. However, Mohapatra, director general of India Meteorological Department, stated that this reading needs confirmation as it is an "outlier." He also noted that 14 out of 20 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded a drop in temperature Wednesday with an average across the city in the 45-50 degrees Celsius range.
Delhi residents struggle amidst water shortages
The heatwave has been accompanied by a crippling water crisis, with several parts of Delhi facing shortages. Areas like Geeta Colony and parts of Chanakyapuri are receiving limited supply through tankers, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, Some residents in Sangam Vihar claimed they have to pay between ₹1,000 to ₹1,250 to fill a small tank from the tanker.
Visuals of water crisis in Geeta Colony
Delhi Government's response to the water crisis
In response to the water crisis, the Delhi government has urged residents to use water judiciously. It has formed 200 teams to identify and check water wastage cases. Activities such as washing cars with a hose pipe, overflowing water tanks, and using drinking water for commercial purposes will attract a ₹2000 fine. Separately, the Aam Aadmi Party government has accused the Haryana government of denying Delhi its share of Yamuna water.
Poor air quality adds to Delhi's woes
Adding to the city's troubles, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the "poor" category with a reading of 236, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Meanwhile, the weather department predicts partly cloudy sky and heatwave conditions with possibilities of dust storm or thunderstorm and very light rain accompanied by gusty winds on Thursday.
