Heat wave claims 7 lives in Jodhpur

With the Mercury soaring, several parts of Rajasthan were reeling under a heat wave that has so far claimed seven lives.
Most parts of the state, especially Jodhpur, Phalodi and Barmer districts, were sizzling with temperatures touching 48 degrees Celsius and hot winds sweeping west Rajasthan, met department said.

One person died of heat in Mahatma Gandhi Hospital on Saturday while 25 people suffering from heat-related problems were hospitalised in Jodhpur district since Saturday night, hospital sources said.

Another unidentified person succumbed to a heat-stroke in the hospital, they said.

Two faculty members of a government school who were on election duty in village Janadesharon died of heat stroke, the sources said.

Two persons of Jaswantgarh village and a local vendor, also succumbed to the heat, they said. Meanwhile, the district administration has set up a separate ward for heat-stricken people.

In Ajmer, several places in the district were experiencing drought conditions, official sources said.

The state government has so far declared 23 villages scarcity affected. Over 70 per cent Kharif crop in these villages have been destroyed, the sources said.

About 137 out of 140 tanks of the irrigation department have dried out.

Villages in interior areas are facing drinking water shortage. However, efforts are being made to supply water through tanks. Bureau Report