Amid nationwide heatwave , Health Minister to hold key meet today

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a high-level meeting today to review the country's preparedness as several states continue to reel under intense heatwaves.

The weather agency has predicted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in various regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana among others.

Over the past few days, deaths due to heat stroke have been reported from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.

Fifty-four people have died and around 400 hospitalised in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia amid soaring temperatures in the district.

The sudden increase in deaths and patients being admitted to hospitals with fever, breathing trouble, and other issues have overwhelmed the hospital, which has put its staff on alert.

In the wake of scorching heat, several states have extended their summer vacations as a response to the extreme heat.

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said that most of India would experience above-normal maximum temperatures from April to June.