New ward at SCB Medical College and Hospital will start operating from Friday to combat heatstroke cases because of rising temperature. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, March 13: The authorities of SCB Medical College and Hospital have been asked to come up with a dedicated ward to deal with heatstroke cases keeping in view the sudden rise in the temperature in the past couple of days.

Senior officials of district administration said the city had already registered a rise in temperature between four and five degrees in the past week with a highest temperature of 36 degrees.

“The hospital has decided to come up with special arrangements including a dedicated heatstroke ward at the casualty. Besides, the 10 beds at the heatstroke ward, another arrangement of 10 beds will be made at the medicine ward with two-bed provisions in the paediatric ward to deal with heatstroke cases,” said B.N. Moharana, emergency officer of the hospital.

Moharana said the groundwork was being carried out on a war footing and the special heatstroke ward would be made operational from Friday.

About 10 heatstroke cases were reported at the SCB last year while seven cases were registered in 2011. Out of the seven cases, five persons were tourists.

On the other hand, the Cuttack district administration has also decided to reschedule timing of various schools to provide some respite to students from the scorching heat.

Officials said the various private and government schools had been asked to change the timing of classes and examination which have to be rescheduled from 6.30am to 11am. This was decided at a preparatory meeting held at the collectorate yesterday.

“The circle inspector of schools has been asked to issue a notification to the schools to reschedule timings. We have also asked the school authorities to complete final examinations by the end of April,” said district collector Girish S.N.

Girish said the district administration had also decided to initiate stern action against private English medium schools if they violated the order and continued to hold classes beyond the deadline.

District administration officials said a control room had already been set up with a toll-free number for effective management of heat wave conditions in the district.

Tehsildars have also been directed to report cases of death caused by sunstroke to the district office and sub-collector. A joint inquiry by local tehsildar and medical officer would be conducted to assess the cause of death.