In view of the prevailing heat wave conditions, the Odisha government today advised its citizens to stay indoors between 11 AM and 3 PM.
"The temperatures are likely to remain high. As per the met department, there are no signs of any improvement in the coming days. Keeping this in view, we have to stay completely prepared. In line with the advisory issued by the Met department, we also recommend people should not show adventurism and should stay indoors, especially between 11 AM and 3 PM," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Mohapatra told reporters.
The SRC, however, said that if there is any urgent need to go oustide, people should take all precautionary measures like covering their head with wet clothes, carry water bottle and umbrella.
The SRC issued this advisory as the mercury level touched 47.5 degree Celsius at Titlagarh and most part of the western region recorded temperature above 44 degree C for a period of 10 days or more.
The state government has directed closure of all schools till April 26, restricted engagement of workers in manual jobs from 11 am to 3 pm and cancelled leave of employees engaged in the supply of drinking water.
Preparations have also been made in all the government hospitals to treat sunstroke patients.
Meanwhile, Mohapatra said the state government has decided that the victims of sun stroke would be given an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 each. He said the compensation will be paid out of the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
"We have written to the Central government to consider heat stroke deaths as a disaster. However, it has been classified as a state specific disaster. Hence the Rs 50,000 compensation is being provided out of the SDRF," Mohapatra said.
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With the Odisha government so far receiving reports of 73 death cases allegedly due to sun stroke, Mohapatra said, "We are documenting all reports of deaths as published by the media in order to investigate whether the deaths are due to heat stroke or not."
Of the 73 cases received till yesterday, he said 24 have been examined.
"Two of these deaths have been confirmed as heat related incidents. One sunstroke death has been confirmed each in Angul and Bolangir districts," he said.
On the problems of drinking water across the state which is compounding the heat situation, Mohapatra said: "We are tackling the situation on a war footing. After the chief minister's meeting, Panchayatiraj department has taken a strong stance on the matter and strict action will be initiated against the Sarpanches if guidelines are not followed.
We are also tracking the complaints we are receiving and checking how many such complaints are being attended to. Leaves of all the concerned officials of the water supply department have been cancelled all of them will be on duty round the clock till the time temperatures return to normal.
