New Delhi:
New Delhi: Delhi reported serious heatstroke cases on Thursday as an intense heatwave continued to grip the national capital and large parts of north India, pushing hospitals, power utilities and civic authorities into alert mode.
A 24-year-old man from West Bengal, who was travelling by train, was rushed to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in an unconscious state around 1.45 am on May 21. Doctors said he had no comorbidities but had developed vomiting, extreme fatigue and loose motions before losing consciousness. He was immediately treated at the hospital’s emergency facility, where doctors used ice-water immersion to bring down his dangerously high body temperature.
Dr Ajay Chauhan, Nodal Officer at RML Hospital, said the patient’s condition remained serious and warned that heatstroke, commonly known as loo lagna, is a life-threatening condition. He advised people to remain hydrated, consume ORS and traditional cooling drinks, and avoid direct exposure to the sun.
Later, RML Hospital reported another heatstroke case after a 50-year-old man was brought in unconscious by police with extremely high body temperature. Doctors placed him on ventilator support and began ice-cold water immersion cooling.
The cases come as Delhi recorded temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius, with doctors reporting a rise in patients suffering from fever, headache, body ache, lethargy, dehydration and heat exhaustion. Dr Atul Kakar, Chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said children, elderly people and those with kidney or heart-related ailments were at greater risk. He advised people to avoid stepping out between noon and 3 pm and to consume water, ORS, lassi or lemon water with salt.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government was working in “mission mode” to protect residents from the heat. She said 13 mobile heat relief units were being deployed in crowded areas to provide cold drinking water, ORS packets, first aid, cotton gamchhas and caps. The government has also arranged water bell systems in schools, cool rooms in hospitals and additional ORS supplies.
The heat has also pushed the city’s electricity demand sharply higher. Delhi’s peak power demand touched 8,039 MW at 3.35 pm on Wednesday, the highest so far in 2026, according to State Load Dispatch Centre data. This was higher than the peak demand recorded during the same period in 2025 and 2024. The demand is expected to cross 9,000 MW this summer, surpassing the all-time high of 8,656 MW recorded in 2025.
BSES said its discoms had successfully met peak demand in their areas and were fully prepared to ensure reliable supply through long-term power purchase agreements, banking arrangements, green power and AI-based demand forecasting.
The heatwave has also intensified across several states. Uttar Pradesh’s Banda recorded 48 degrees Celsius, making it one of the hottest places in the country, while Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh touched 46.3 degrees Celsius. Bihar is also reeling under severe heat, with several districts recording temperatures around 40 to 43 degrees Celsius and high humidity increasing discomfort levels.
Doctors have urged people to avoid unnecessary outdoor movement, especially during peak afternoon hours, wear light clothing, keep children and the elderly indoors, and seek medical help immediately in case of fainting, confusion, persistent vomiting or high fever.