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Heatstroke Took 374 Lives, Over 67,000 Cases Till July 27: Health Ministry

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India has reported 374 deaths and 67,637 cases of suspected heatstroke from March 1 to July 27 this year, according to Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel. The alarming figures were disclosed in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The latest data reveals a significant increase from the earlier estimates provided by the Ministry of Health, which reported 110 deaths and 42,000 cases by June 18. The majority of these incidents occurred in rural areas, where strenuous outdoor work associated with agriculture and poor health infrastructure exacerbated the impact of the heatwave. Uttar Pradesh was the worst-hit state, recording 52 deaths. Bihar followed with 37 fatalities, while Odisha and Delhi reported 26 and 25 deaths respectively. These statistics were compiled under the National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Government Response and Measures The Integrated Health Information Portal has been receiving data on heatstroke cases and deaths from States and Union Territories since 2023, as noted by Minister Patel. State and UT health departments get yearly warnings from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to put awareness, readiness, and response plans into place. The Union Health Ministry’s Secretary communicated with the chief secretaries of all states and UTs on February 29 in order to release this year’s advise. The warning included steps to improve community awareness of heat-related diseases and to bolster health sector readiness. Record-Breaking Temperatures and Weather Anomalies With a blistering 47 degrees Celsius, June 2024 witnessed the hottest temperature recorded in the month in a decade. The hottest temperatures ever recorded in June 2023 were 41.8 degrees Celsius, 44.2 degrees Celsius in 2022, and 43 degrees Celsius in 2021. This is a considerable rise above the prior records. Furthermore, July was the second warmest month overall in India since 1901 and the highest nighttime temperature ever recorded in the country. Significant flooding resulted from the abnormally high rains that followed the record temperatures in various states, including Gujarat, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh. It was the hottest July on record for both mean and lowest temperatures in the east and northeast of India. The terrible heatwave has made it clear how urgently better infrastructure and readiness are needed to deal with extreme weather, especially in rural regions. The growing frequency and intensity of these occurrences highlight the significance of long-term policies to address climate change and its implications on public health, even if the government’s preemptive actions and advisories play a key role in lessening the impact of such heatwaves. Reference taken from the Hindu

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Odisha Swearing-in Highlights: Mohan Majhi Takes Oath as CM, K.V. Singh Deo and Pravati Parida as Deputy CMs

In a historic moment, Mohan Charan Majhi, a four-time MLA and tribal leader, was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of Odisha under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a grand ceremony in Bhubaneswar. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states. Majhi, who is also the first tribal leader to hold the position, took the oath of office along with his two deputies, K.V. Singh Deo and Pravati Parida. The ceremony was held at Janata Maidan, where hundreds of people gathered to witness the historic event.Governor Raghubar Das administered the oath of secrecy and office to the new Chief Minister and his deputies. The event marked the end of the 24-year rule of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik. Majhi, who was accompanied by his deputies, paid floral tributes to various statues across the city, including those of Utkala Mani Gopabandhu Das, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, and Parala Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati. The new government has 16 Ministers, including 11 Cabinet Ministers and five Ministers of State with independent charge. The Ministers include four from the tribal community and two from the Scheduled Castes. The event was attended by several notable figures, including Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), Bhupendrabhai Patel (Gujarat), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Bhajan Lal Sharma (Rajasthan), Pramod Sawant (Goa), and Manik Saha (Tripura).Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Nitin Gadkari, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Jual Oram were also present at the ceremony. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was personally invited by Majhi, attended the event along with his family. The swearing-in ceremony marked a significant milestone in Odisha’s political history, as it marked the first time the BJP has come to power in the state.  

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Odisha Government Declares Summer Vacations Amid Rising Temperatures

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In response to the prevailing intense heatwave conditions in Odisha, the state government has announced summer vacations for school students starting from April 25. This decision applies to all schools, including government, government-aided, and private institutions. To mitigate the effects of the rising temperatures, the government has also implemented morning classes from 6:30 am to 10:30 am in schools for three days, scheduled from April 22 to April 24. Earlier measures included the closure of all schools in the state for three days from April 18 to 20 due to the severe heatwave situation, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in certain areas. According to reports, several towns in Odisha, including Jharsuguda and Keonjhar, recorded temperatures as high as 43.6 degrees Celsius, prompting concerns about the health and well-being of residents. Other areas such as Hirakud, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Chandbali, and Balasore also experienced temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. This decision by the Odisha government aims to ensure the safety and comfort of students during the sweltering summer months.

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Odisha Government Partners with Education Ministry to Implement PM SHRI Scheme

The Odisha government is poised to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to implement the PM SHRI Schools scheme. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities is expected to be finalized before the commencement of the 2024-25 academic year. The Ministry of Education, Government of India, expressed its support for the initiative, emphasizing its commitment to strengthening school education and ensuring the holistic development of students in Odisha. The PM SHRI scheme, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), seeks to establish over 14,500 model schools across India. Under the PM SHRI School initiative, which is a centrally sponsored scheme, various stakeholders, including the Central Government, State/UT Governments, local bodies, Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), will collaborate to establish these schools. The overarching goal is to create an inclusive learning environment that values and supports every student, aligning with the objectives outlined in the NEP 2020. With an anticipated direct impact on more than 20 lakh students, the PM SHRI scheme aims to enhance the quality of school education and drive policy formulation and implementation. Over the course of five years, from 2022-23 to 2026-27, the initiative aims to not only benefit immediate beneficiaries but also serve as a blueprint for elevating educational standards nationwide.  

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COVID-19 Update: Rising Cases, Advisory in Himachal, JN.1 Variant Spreads

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, several Indian states are urging citizens to adhere to coronavirus protocols. As of December 25, Kerala leads with 3,096 active cases, followed by Karnataka (436), Maharashtra (168), Gujarat (56), and Tamil Nadu (139). The Union Health Ministry reported 69 cases of the JN.1 COVID subvariant in the country. In response to the variant’s presence, Himachal Pradesh health officials issued an advisory. Chief medical officers are instructed to test individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, emphasizing vigilance. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar from Una recommended immediate testing for those with symptoms like cold, fever, or cough, while stressing the importance of mask-wearing. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirmed 34 cases of the JN.1 variant in the state, reassuring the public that the situation is under control. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged citizens not to panic, emphasizing that the health minister would provide updates. In a surprising turn, BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal threatened to reveal a purported ₹40,000-crore “Covid scam” if expelled from the party. Yatnal alleges that the Karnataka BJP government, led by B S Yediyurappa, engaged in massive corruption during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Delhi’s Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the city’s COVID positivity rate is around 1%. While advising caution during winter festivals, he assured the public that additional genome sequencing is being conducted. Meanwhile, a new COVID-19 case surfaced in Khurda district, Odisha, bringing the state’s total to three. All three individuals exhibit mild symptoms and are undergoing home treatment. Responding to the escalating cases, the Karnataka government’s coronavirus sub-committee implemented measures, including mandatory mask-wearing, home isolation, and caution against sending symptomatic children to schools. Dr. Shekhar C Mande, former Director-General of CSIR, emphasized the significance of disease surveillance in India, not only for COVID-19 but also for tracking the spread of various infections, including antimicrobial resistance. He highlighted the usefulness of surveillance methods such as wastewater analysis in detecting variants like JN.1. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled JN.1 as a ‘variant of interest,’ distinct from its counterpart BA.2.86. Despite this, WHO maintains that the risk from JN.1 remains low for now

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