Amid a sweltering heatwave that has claimed five lives in Delhi and at least ten in Noida, Delhi Health Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj held a meeting with the heads of all major hospitals in the capital. He instructed them to increase the number of patient beds.

In Uttar Pradesh, state authorities reported that at least 44 people have died from heatstroke since May.

Northern India is enduring the longest heatwave in its history, with the southwest monsoon’s advancement stalling despite an early onset in Kerala.

Delhi, the national capital, is also facing a severe water crisis and power outages as the city experiences record-high electricity demand.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that conditions are now favorable for further monsoon advancement, which had stalled between June 12 and 18, prolonging the wait for rains in North India, which is suffering from the extreme heat.

The Delhi Police’s beat officers and patrol teams have been instructed to help move homeless people to shelter homes if they are found on footpaths under the open sky. The Delhi Police Commissioner has directed patrol teams to call ambulances for any sick homeless individuals they encounter.

Hospitals have been told to increase beds for patients suffering from heat-related illnesses. Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the Delhi government has instructed all healthcare centers to ensure their emergency rooms remain operational 24/7.

A senior doctor must always be present in the emergency ward to handle patients affected by the prolonged heat. Additionally, all necessary medicines for treating such patients must be available in hospitals.

CDMOs are also instructed to ensure that if a patient arrives at a dispensary, they receive immediate treatment and are then transferred to the nearest hospital by ambulance. Healthcare workers must promptly respond to calls for patient admissions and ensure that patients are quickly transferred to the nearest hospitals.

All CATS Department ambulances must remain on high alert around the clock, with some stationed near the most affected areas and shelter homes.

On the second day of rescue operations, the Sikkim administration evacuated 1,225 tourists from Lachung and the surrounding areas in Mangan district. Multiple landslides and heavy rain struck the region last week, resulting in at least six fatalities according to an official statement.

The evacuation of over 1,200 tourists stranded in North Sikkim since June 12 and 13 began on June 17. The Trishakti Corps troops are significantly aiding the civil authorities in expediting relief operations. Due to numerous landslides, tourists are being transported on foot or by vehicle where roads are accessible, as reported by the PRO Defence.

On Tuesday, the Sikkim administration evacuated 1,225 tourists from Lachung and nearby areas of Mangan district. If weather conditions permit, the remaining tourists, a few hundred, will be evacuated on Wednesday. “We have evacuated 1,225 tourists from Lachung and surrounding regions and brought them to Mangan town by road today,” said Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Vishnu Lama, as reported by PTI.

In addition to the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sonam Detchu Bhutia, other senior civil and police officials, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, local panchayats, and volunteers are coordinating the rescue of the stranded tourists.

The rescue operation commenced after the BRO restored connectivity between Chungthang and Mangan via the newly constructed bridge at Toong over the Teesta River.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated measures to tackle waterlogging issues in the city.

Following visits to rain-affected areas after pre-monsoon showers, the drainage department provided recommendations for improvement. Areas impacted included Yerawada, Vimannagar, Sinhagad Road, Koregaon Park, Mhalunge, Timber Market, Lohegaon, Aundh, Market Yard, Dhanori, Baner Road, JM Road, Ganeshkhind Road, Karve Road, and NDA Road.

The PMC road department has elevated drainage chambers to road level on VR Shinde Road in Bibvewadi and constructed a drainage chamber in Pulachiwadi at Deccan Gymkhana. Additionally, work has begun on connecting a stormwater line to the culvert near Commerce Zone in Yerawada.

To facilitate water flow to nearby nullahs, the road department has broken part of the footpath at Shivaji Chowk on Satara Road.

Sahebrao Dandge, superintendent engineer of the road department, stated, “Rainwater accumulates at this spot as it is a low-lying area. On Saturday, the PMC commissioner and additional commissioner visited various waterlogging spots across the city.”