BALLIA: Eleven more patients admitted to the Ballia district hospital in Uttar Pradesh succumbed to various ailments, raising the toll to 68 over the course of five days.
In response to the situation, a committee from the health department was dispatched from Lucknow to investigate the cause of these deaths.
Throughout Monday, the committee surveyed different areas of the district. It is worth noting that these deaths occurred amidst the prevailing heatwave conditions in the region.
However, the chief medical officer of Ballia, Dr Jayant Kumar, said that only two people died due to heat stroke in the district as of Sunday.
The two-member committee, consisting of Dr A K Singh (Director of Communicable Diseases) and Dr K N Tiwari (Director of Medical Care), visited the Bansdih area of the district, which is the origin of the majority of the deceased patients admitted to the hospital.
The two officials also held fresh inspection of the district hospital. “The arrangements at the hospital have improved. Five more air coolers have been installed in the wards,” Tiwari said.
Commenting on the spike in deaths, Tiwari said, “It could also be a coincidence because most of them were elderly patients with pre-existing ailments.”
However, the director (medical care) denied that the deaths are caused by heat stroke.
“We are looking into all aspects to identify if there is any underlying common cause behind these deaths. Samples are being collected from patients and examination is underway,” he told reporters here.
According to the health officials, on average about eight deaths are reported daily at the district hospital.
Meanwhile, CMO Kumar said a total of 178 new patients were admitted to the hospital in the last 24 hours, of which 11 have died. “Those who died were suffering from various ailments,” he said.
The CMO declined to comment on the cause of death and asserted that best possible arrangements have been made for the patients admitted to the hospital.
“On the direction of senior officials, we have increased the number of air coolers and fans in the hospital,” the CMO said, adding the hospital administration has also increased the number of beds to 276 from 200 to accommodate new patients.
Chief medical superintendent (CMS) of the district hospital S K Yadav said that the number of patients admitted in the hospital has gone over 400.
“We are also experiencing a rise in patients in the out-patient department (OPD). About 1,500 to 1,800 patients are visiting the OPD daily as against around 1,000 to 1,200 earlier,” the CMS said.
Besides the district hospital, the number of patients in community and primary health centres of the district have also increased in the past few days, the health officials said.
Ballia, along with the entire central and eastern UP, is reeling under sultry weather. As per the India Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature in Ballia was recorded at 43.5 degree Celsius on Sunday, six notches above normal.
(With inputs from PTI)
In response to the situation, a committee from the health department was dispatched from Lucknow to investigate the cause of these deaths.
Throughout Monday, the committee surveyed different areas of the district. It is worth noting that these deaths occurred amidst the prevailing heatwave conditions in the region.
However, the chief medical officer of Ballia, Dr Jayant Kumar, said that only two people died due to heat stroke in the district as of Sunday.
The two-member committee, consisting of Dr A K Singh (Director of Communicable Diseases) and Dr K N Tiwari (Director of Medical Care), visited the Bansdih area of the district, which is the origin of the majority of the deceased patients admitted to the hospital.
The two officials also held fresh inspection of the district hospital. “The arrangements at the hospital have improved. Five more air coolers have been installed in the wards,” Tiwari said.
Commenting on the spike in deaths, Tiwari said, “It could also be a coincidence because most of them were elderly patients with pre-existing ailments.”
However, the director (medical care) denied that the deaths are caused by heat stroke.
“We are looking into all aspects to identify if there is any underlying common cause behind these deaths. Samples are being collected from patients and examination is underway,” he told reporters here.
According to the health officials, on average about eight deaths are reported daily at the district hospital.
Meanwhile, CMO Kumar said a total of 178 new patients were admitted to the hospital in the last 24 hours, of which 11 have died. “Those who died were suffering from various ailments,” he said.
The CMO declined to comment on the cause of death and asserted that best possible arrangements have been made for the patients admitted to the hospital.
“On the direction of senior officials, we have increased the number of air coolers and fans in the hospital,” the CMO said, adding the hospital administration has also increased the number of beds to 276 from 200 to accommodate new patients.
Chief medical superintendent (CMS) of the district hospital S K Yadav said that the number of patients admitted in the hospital has gone over 400.
“We are also experiencing a rise in patients in the out-patient department (OPD). About 1,500 to 1,800 patients are visiting the OPD daily as against around 1,000 to 1,200 earlier,” the CMS said.
Besides the district hospital, the number of patients in community and primary health centres of the district have also increased in the past few days, the health officials said.
Ballia, along with the entire central and eastern UP, is reeling under sultry weather. As per the India Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature in Ballia was recorded at 43.5 degree Celsius on Sunday, six notches above normal.
(With inputs from PTI)
