Latur farmer collapses & dies, fourth suspected heatstroke death so far in state this summer

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar/Pune: A 60-year-old farmer from Nilanga taluka in Latur district collapsed and died of suspected heatstroke on Monday, taking the total number of such fatalities across the state to four. Besides, the health department has recorded 39 suspected heatstroke cases between March 1 and April 20, officials said.The health department has launched a detailed investigation into the death. "The cause of the farmer's death could be dehydration-induced cardiac failure linked to prolonged heat exposure, based on inputs from the attending doctor and the farmer's family," Latur district disaster management officer Saqueb Osmani said.District health officer Dr Balaji Shinde said taluka-level health authorities had been told to determine whether the death qualified as a heatstroke fatality under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health. "A detailed investigation will include clinical history, environmental conditions prior to the illness, medical observations, physical activity before collapse and prevailing weather data," he said.According to the health officials, a 45-year-old woman farmer from Parner taluka in Ahilyanagar had died of intracranial haemorrhage on April 17, while a 45-year-old farmer from Shrigonda taluka, with a known history of heart disease, had died of myocardial infarction on April 18. "In Solapur district's Mohol taluka, a 67-year-old farmer collapsed while working in the fields around 2pm on April 16. He reportedly complained of giddiness and excessive sweating before suffering a cardiac arrest while being rushed to hospital," an official said.Data showed among the 39 suspected heatstroke cases, Akola reported the highest number at 11, followed by Nandurbar (6) and Ratnagiri (5). Gadchiroli, Jalna, Raigad, Satara and Palghar recorded two cases each, while Gondia, Jalgaon, Nashik, Parbhani, Pune, Solapur and Thane reported one case each.The state also reported 108 cardiovascular-related deaths during the same period. The health officials said extreme heat significantly increased the risk of heart-related fatalities, as high temperatures placed severe strain on the cardiovascular system. "In extreme heat, the heart is forced to pump harder and faster to regulate body temperature, which can trigger serious cardiac events," an official said.State epidemiologist Dr Raju Sule of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) said none of the deaths had yet been confirmed as heatstroke-related. "All post-mortem reports will be reviewed by an expert panel, after which it will be determined whether extreme temperatures were the primary cause," he said.With several districts across Maharashtra recording temperatures above 40°C early in the summer, health authorities have flagged heatstroke as a major public health concern. The health department has directed all district medical officers to ensure the availability of cold rooms at primary health centres. Hospitals and health institutions have also been told to maintain adequate stocks of medicines, intravenous fluids and oral rehydration salts (ORS).District health officers have further been asked to conduct training sessions for medical officers on diagnosing and reporting heatstroke cases on the state health portal. District administrations have also been urged to avoid organising public meetings during afternoon hours amid extreme heat conditions. "People should avoid strenuous physical labour during peak afternoon hours. Farmers who cannot stop work should at least cover their head and ears with white cotton cloth to reduce heat exposure," Latur district disaster management officer Osmani added.
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