There is panic in the country as the number of people losing their lives due to the heatwave increases. Meanwhile, the number of funerals held this month at the Nigam Bodh crematorium in capital Delhi has raised concerns. More than 1200 bodies have been cremated at the Nigam Bodh crematorium from June 1 to June 20 at 12:30 pm. Is this a fatal weather blow? This is the biggest question, as the number of patients in hospitals is also increasing and this includes deaths due to the heatwave.
The data that has come out in the last one week regarding the last rites at the Nigam Bodh Ghat is shocking. 43 bodies were cremated on June 14, 53 on June 15, 70 on June 16, 54 on June 17, 97 on June 18, 142 on June 19 and 35 bodies were cremated on June 20 till 12.30 pm. Nigam Bodh Ghat Chief Manager Suman Gupta said that arrangements have to be made in the crematorium. 10 additional staff have been added. The pressure is on, volunteers have also been deployed. Arrangements have been made for drinking cold water. Additional men have to be posted at the wooden counter. Care is also being taken not to cause any inconvenience to the people.
Nigam Bodh Ghat Chief Manager Suman Gupta said that an average of 60 people are cremated every month. Numbers increase only in these months or in the cold of December.
Nigam Bodh Ghat statistics for the last few years in the month of June
- June 2021- 1210 Cremation
- June 2022- 1570 cremations (it was the time of covid)
- June 2023- 1319
- 2024- Over 1200 (by 12:30 PM on June 20)
There has been a sudden increase in the number of patients in hospitals
Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital has suddenly seen an increase in the number of heatwave patients. 13 patients have died in the last 24 hours due to heatwave. At the same time, 33 new heatwave patients have been admitted. Three members of the Union Health Ministry have been constituted to monitor heat wave-related preparations in Delhi’s central hospitals. The team first reached Safdarjung Hospital at 11 am today, followed by Ram Manohar Lohia and AIIMS Hospital.
Night shelters are locked, people are forced to live in the open
The condition of the night shelters built in Delhi is also bad amid the heatwave conditions. Many night shelters are locked. A night shelter is equipped with facilities on Delhi’s ring road. At the same time, 5 night shelters built in Yamuna Bazaar are closed. Five night shelters that were closed during the floods last year are yet to be opened. People living in the shade of these night shelters are now forced to live in the open in the scorching heat.
