Delhi Heatwave: Govt orders rescue of homeless

As the heatwave in the national capital continues unabated, the Delhi government has directed officials to rescue the homeless from footpaths and parks, and send them to shelter homes.

Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj issued an order to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) on Wednesday, mandating the rescue efforts.

With the summer season at its peak and various advisories from government departments (NDMA, NPCCHH, NCDC, state health departments, etc.), the order directs rescue drives in Delhi. The drives are part of a heatwave action plan to provide accommodation in DUSIB shelter homes for homeless people found on footpaths, open spaces, and parks.

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“All shelter management agencies (SMAs) are directed to form rescue teams and start the drive in their respective areas immediately. The rescue drive will run from 12 pm to 12 am daily during the summer season, with a report on the previous day’s efforts to be submitted by 11 am the next day,” the order reads.

The order also emphasises prioritising appropriate medical assistance for those in distress due to the heat, with Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulances available to transport sick individuals to hospitals. Any laxity in carrying out the directives will be viewed seriously, the order added.

Meanwhile, on Monday, police reported that 50 bodies were recovered around Delhi over the past 48 hours, with the victims belonging to underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds. The ongoing heatwave, which has been sweeping through the city, is believed to have contributed to a surge in casualties and heatstroke cases. However, police and health officials have not yet confirmed if all the deaths were heat-related.

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A senior police officer stated that the body of a 55-year-old man was discovered at the children’s park near India Gate on Wednesday. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

The Centre for Holistic Development, an NGO supporting the homeless, claimed that 192 homeless individuals died in Delhi due to the heatwave from June 11 to 19. Hospitals in the national capital have reported a significant increase in cases of heatstroke and heat exhaustion, as well as several deaths over the past two days.

Delhi experienced a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius, which is over four degrees above the normal. Additionally, the night temperature reached 35.2 degrees Celsius, marking the city’s highest in June since 1969, according to the Met office on Wednesday. (With inputs from PTI)