Delhi: 10 deaths over past 3 weeks at RML, Delhi’s only hospital with a heatstroke clinic

Delhi: A total of 10 people have died at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital since May 27 due to the severe heatwave conditions in the national capital, said a senior official.

“Forty-five patients suffering from heat-related illnesses have been admitted to the hospital in the past 24 days,” he said.

“Additionally, 36 cases of persons suffering from high fever were reported and 13 persons with extreme symptoms were brought dead to the hospital,” the doctor added.

In a 24-hour period starting from 9 am on June 18, the hospital saw 11 new patients suffering from heat stroke, a senior doctor said.

RML Hospital reported that one patient succumbed to heat stroke on Tuesday. However, sources indicate that there were two such deaths occurred at the medical facility.

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“An 82-year-old female patient, referred by a Delhi government hospital, succumbed to heat stroke late Tuesday evening. She was experiencing difficulty breathing and was already on ventilator support,” said a senior doctor who wished to remain anonymous.

On Monday, three patients lost their lives due to heat-related illnesses at the facility, as per RML Hospital records.

Dr. Seema Balkrishna Wasnik, Head of Emergency Medicine and in charge of the heat stroke unit, said, “Currently, four people on ventilator support are in critical condition due to heat stroke.”

“Cold sponges should be applied to the bodies of patients suffering from heat strokes to reduce their body temperature while being brought to the hospital. This can save lives and prevent organ failure,” Dr. Seema advised.

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Notably, RML is the only hospital in the national capital with a dedicated heat stroke unit, which was recently inaugurated.

On Tuesday night, the minimum temperature of the capital soared to 35.2 degrees Celsius at Delhi’s base station – Safdarjung observatory, which was the highest in the past 55 years, according to the India Meteorological Department.