Heat wave persists in most parts of Orissa. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, June 2: Heat wave has claimed at least 15 lives in the past five years.

So far, six people have reportedly died due to heat wave this year. However, the state government has admitted that two of the six persons died due to sunstroke and the inquiry report for the remaining four persons were yet to be received.

Sambalpur has witnessed the worst effects of climate change.

In 1998, heat wave had claimed 127 lives in Sambalpur district alone.

Since 1998, the government has always claimed to have initiated proactive measures to control deaths due to sunstroke.

Before the advent of summer, the hospital authorities make special arrangements to deal with sunstroke cases. It also conducts drives about sunstroke and preventive measures through posters, banners and other mediums. The district administration also makes arrangements to face the problem.

“Though there has been a massive campaign to bring awareness among the people, government reports claim that 15 persons have died of sunstroke in these past five years. In reality, 65 people are said to have died during this time,” said a local resident.

“The majority of people who died due to sunstroke were daily labourers. Moreover, there are a number sunstroke death cases which do not come to the notice of the administration. Indiscriminate industrialisation has been contributing to the rise in the mercury level,” he added.

“The administration has campaigned extensively and asked them not to come out during a certain time period. We have taken initiatives to repair all defunct tube wells before the summer. The people who do not abide by the instructions of the administration and the health department are the victims,” said Harihar Mallick, additional district magistrate of Sambalpur.

Agreeing to the fact that majority of the people who died of sunstroke were labourers, additional district medical officer Minakshi Mohanty said: “Hospital authorities have arranged two air-conditioned cabins for sunstroke cases. We have even campaigned extensively about precautions to be taken this summer. The people are now much aware about the threat associated with heat wave.”

However, Byomkesh Panda, a local resident, said: “The arrangement made by the administration and the health department is not adequate.

“People in a majority of places in the district are facing water crisis. There are hundreds of defunct tube wells in the villages of Sambalpur which are yet to be repaired.”