Odisha: Heat stroke victims’ kin to get Rs.50,000 compensation

Bhubaneswar: Keeping the impending intense heat wave in mind, the Odisha government is all set to take measures in order to combat its impact in the coastal state.

After a Heat Wave Preparedness meeting in Bhubaneswar today, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi informed that Rs. 50,000 compensation will be given to the family of victims who succumb to sunstroke.

“Hospitals will have facilities to treat sunstroke patients. If the victims die in the hospital, their post mortem will be conducted to confirm heat stroke as cause of death. Similarly, a doctor and an administrative official of OSDMA will confirm such deaths, if the victim has not been admitted to a hospital. Heat stroke has been categorised as a disaster casualty since April 2015 ,” he said.

He also stated that Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) has chalked out a Heat Wave Action Plan that includes measures to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

“Working hours of workers in unorganized sectors will be reduced and work will be interrupted from 11 am to 3: 30 pm. Similarly, Commerce and Transport department and Regional Transport Office will direct bus services to reduce plying during heat wave alert during the day,” Sethi added.

The meeting was attended by various departments who will aid in heat wave management. Heat wave alerts will be timely wired to different block offices in the state.