BHUBANESWAR/ JAIPUR: The countrywide toll of suspected heatstroke deaths touched 219 with Odisha reporting six fresh casualties and Rajasthan two in the last 24 hours even as the southwest monsoon advanced to some more parts of south India on Monday.
The toll so far in Odisha has reached 147, though only 30 are confirmed sunstroke casualties, sources in state special relief commissioner’s office said.
IMD said that heatwave conditions, though with reduced intensity, are likely to continue in isolated pockets in northwest and eastern India for the next 4-5 days before monsoon hits Odisha, a few days ahead of its usual date of June 12.
“Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Karnataka, some parts of south Maharashtra, Goa, remaining parts Rayalaseema, Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh, some parts of south Chhattisgarh and south Odisha during next four to five days,” the IMD bulletin said.
Following thunderstorm activities in several districts of Odisha, day temperature reduced to normal or below normal at several places.
In Rajasthan, Jaipur’s SMS hospital recorded two heatstroke fatalities on Monday, taking the toll in the state so far to 12. Of these, Jaipur alone accounts for seven deaths.