Lucknow: With temperatures rising over the past week, major govt hospitals — Balrampur, SPM Civil, Lok Bandhu and KGMU — have reported a 30%-40% rise in patients with heat-related illnesses.At Civil Hospital, cases of nausea, dysentery and loose motion have increased from around 60-80 a day to 90-110. Balrampur Hospital has seen a rise from about 120-150 to 160-210 cases daily. Lok Bandhu Hospital reported an increase from 50-70 to nearly 80-100, while KGMU recorded a jump from around 150-200 to 220-280 cases per day.The surge, recorded over the past week, has put pressure on outpatient departments (OPDs) and waiting areas, with patients and attendants crowding lobbies and shaded spaces.Doctors attribute the rise to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. This is triggering symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue and dizziness, with children and the elderly among the most affected.“Most cases are linked to heat exhaustion and dehydration, while severe heat stroke cases remain limited so far,” said Dr Devesh Chandra, medical superintendent (MS), Civil.Hospitals have expanded basic arrangements, including ORS distribution points, drinking water facilities, cooling systems and temporary shaded shelters for attendants. “Power backups are being used to manage outages, and additional space is being utilised to handle the increased footfall,” said Dr Ajai Tripahi from Lok Bandhu.MS Balrampur Dr PK Srivastava said that with high temperatures expected to persist, the patient load may rise further in the coming days. Residents have been advised to stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure during peak afternoon hours and take extra care of vulnerable family members.
