948 emergencies on Gujarat’s hottest day: EMRI

AHMEDABAD: EMRI 108 emergency service recorded 948 heat-related emergencies on May 19, considered the hottest day of the century for many cities in Gujarat. In total, the 108 service has recorded 14,187 cases from May 1 to 19 at an average of 746 cases per day.
EMRI officials said that Ahmedabad, which received the highest number of calls on May 18 for 283 cases, registered 275 emergencies the next day (Thursday).“The drop in number of calls can be explained by greater awareness. The heat wave and high temperatures were highly publicized. Hence, we believe fewer people ventured out. Most took adequate precautions. Ahmedabad district accounts for one fifth of the total heat-related emergencies recorded in May in Gujarat,” said an EMRI official.
On May 20, paramedics reported a total of 549 cases in the state till 5 pm. Of these, 166 were reported from Ahmedabad, 50 from Surat, 25 from Vadodara and 22 each from Gandhinagar and Rajkot. Fainting, vomiting and abdominal pain remained the main complaints of patients of heat-affected ailments, said officials.