The Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to immediately seek medical attention if they experience increased heart rate, breathing problems, low blood pressure, lack of sweating, severe headache, nausea, or high fever.
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While reports of deaths due to extreme heat and heatstroke are coming in from neighboring India, the western Terai region of Nepal has also been affected by the scorching heat.
For the past few days, around 100 patients have been coming to Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj every day due to heatstroke. Most of the patients affected by heatstroke have been experiencing headaches, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, fever, and respiratory problems.
'All 200 beds in our hospital are full, including a significant number of patients affected by heatstroke,' the hospital's medical superintendent Dr. Naveen Darnal said over the phone from Nepalgunj, 'The emergency ward is very crowded. We expect that the number of heatstroke cases will increase further if the temperature rises further.'
As the afternoon temperature reached above 40 degrees Celsius, people in Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Dipayal and other areas of the western Terai have been affected by the heat. In Lumbini and other districts of the Terai in the Far West Province, the temperature has also reached around 40 degrees Celsius, creating a heat wave.
According to doctors, farmers and daily wage laborers who work during the day have been the most affected. Apart from the heat wave, they said that cases of fever, diarrhea and snakebite have also increased.
In southern India, at least 16 people have died due to heatstroke in this summer season alone. Temperatures have reached above 45 degrees Celsius in most parts of India today.
The Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology of Nepal has issued a heat wave warning for the Terai districts and a 'hot day' warning for the hilly areas.
'The maximum temperature has reached above 40 degrees Celsius in many places in the western Terai, creating a heat wave,' said Binu Maharjan, a meteorologist at the division. "The temperature in Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj reached around 38 degrees Celsius even before 12 noon on Sunday," he said.
This is the third heat bulletin issued by the division this year. Two bulletins were issued about a month ago. But the temperature had come down due to pre-monsoon rains.
Compared to the eastern Tarai, the western Tarai has not seen heat waves yet, where the temperature is around 30-31 degrees Celsius.
According to officials, the temperature in the western Tarai may decrease slightly from Tuesday as there is a possibility of brief rain on Monday night, which will provide some relief from the extreme heat.
According to doctors, the number of patients with infectious and insect-borne diseases usually increases during the summer season. However, since health institutions in the Tarai have been lacking adequate resources and manpower for years, they have warned that hospitals may be more affected by the pressure of patients in the coming days.
According to them, diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, hepatitis A and E, malaria, dengue, scrub typhus and others will increase with the increase in temperature. There is also a possibility of an increase in snakebites.
Last year, hundreds of people were affected by heatwaves in the southern part of the country. Heatwaves occur when an area experiences unusually high maximum and minimum temperatures for three consecutive days.
Extreme heatwaves cause headaches, nausea, weakness, dizziness and fainting. Heatstroke is the most serious condition, which requires immediate treatment. Doctors have urged the people of the Terai to take precautions, drink enough water and reduce outdoor activities during the day as much as possible.
Nepal is one of the countries worst affected by the climate crisis. In recent years, extreme weather events such as irregular rainfall, floods and landslides have increased, which experts have linked to climate change.
A study has shown that Nepal's average annual maximum temperature has increased by 0.056 degrees Celsius from 1971 to 2014.
Extreme heat events are increasing around the world, which scientists have attributed to climate change.
Ways to avoid heatstroke
• Drink plenty of water
• Take a cold shower
• Use an umbrella, cover your head and wear light clothes when going out during the day
• If you have to work in the fields, do it in the morning and evening
• Eat lemon water, coconut water, fruits and fresh homemade food
What not to do ?
• Do not drink tea, coffee, soda and caffeinated drinks
• Do not go out during the day
• Do not stay in the kitchen for a long time
• Do not smoke and drink alcohol
The Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to go to a health facility immediately if they experience increased heart rate, breathing problems, low blood pressure, lack of sweating, severe headache, nausea or high fever.
