Heatwave grips West Midnapore
6 June 2012
biswabrata goswami MIDNAPORE, 6 JUNE: An intense heatwave is prevailing in most parts of West Midnapore district for the past one week, paralysing normal life as day temperature continues to hover above 45 degrees Celsius in most places.
Although unofficial sources have reported 26 sunstroke deaths across the district in the last two days, only six deaths have have been officially confirmed ~ one each in Jhargram and Beliabera blocks and four in Kharagpur block.
Sanjukta Jana of Radhanagar in Jhargram, suffered heatstroke when she was returning from her College on Monday. An elderly woman, Champa Khilari of Chapla in Beliabera, died when she went to collect widow pension yesterday. A police officer, Apurba Paul (55), posted in Belda police station, died when he was on his way home from the police station yesterday.
The SP, West Midnapore, Mr Sunil Chowdhuri, has said that the police officer died due to the high discomfort index in the weather. A bus driver, Tazisur Islam (46), a resident of Murshidabad, died at Chandrakona Town bus stand. Papal Hansda (35) was found dead near the Chandrakona Road railway station and residents claimed that the death was probably because of heat. Ajit Bose (82) of Jamboni, died due to heatstroke. He became unconscious when he came out of his house at around 10 am. According to the records of health officials, at least four persons died of heatwave in Kharagpur yesterday. Pradip Mitra (46), Animesh Sarkar (46) of Subhashpalli, Debarjan Nandi (18) of Kharagpur, Gurucharan Tudu (48) of Benakul in Kharagpur, Tulsi Adam (40) of Bara Aima and Anamika (32) of Kharida died apparently due to heatstroke, a health official said. This apart, two unidentified bodies were recovered in Kharagpur. Police suspect they died due to heatwave.
However, health officials are not ready to accept the toll as high as 26, as they said that many people died due to old age and some had other illness. “Without a post-mortem, it is difficult to ascertain the number of deaths due to heatstroke. But, we feel that high humidity, along with high temperature, is causing deaths,” a health officials said.
