Girls cover their heads to protect themselves from the scorching heat in Patna. (TOI photo)

PATNA/AURANGABAD: Blistering heat claimed lives of at least 29 people in three districts of Bihar on Saturday.

Aurangabad civil surgeon Dr Surendra Prasad said at least 25 people died due to heatwave in the district. Nawada DM Kaushal Kumar confirmed death of three people due to heat stroke . Officials at disaster management control room confirmed the death of one person in Gaya.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the deaths due to heat stroke in Aurangabad, Nawada and Gaya and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased. He also asked all district magistrates to take precautionary measures in the wake of severe heatwave condition in the state.

The daily bulletin issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday evening stated that maximum temperatures were markedly above normal (5.1 degrees C or more) at many places in the state. Patna Meteorological Centre stated that heatwave in many districts in central and south Bihar, including Patna, Gaya, may continue till June 18.

Aurangabad civil surgeon said, of the 30 more patients undergoing treatment at Sadar hospital, the condition of 10 is critical. "Patients started reaching Aurangabad Sadar hospital from every corner of the district around 5pm. All of them were sick due to heatwave. Fifteen people were brought dead to the hospital," Dr Prasad added. Aurangabad assistant civil surgeon Dr Ravi Ranjan said all possible arrangements were made, but the number of patients was continuously increasing.

Aurangabad deputy development commissioner (DDC) Ghanshyam Meena told TOI that heatwave was prima facie the cause of the deaths. "We will conduct post-mortem of the deceased to get more details on the death," he said.

A CRPF jawan, Viru Kumar, who is among those undergoing treatment at Aurangabad Sadar hospital, said he started feeling nervousness after 2pm. "The heatwave condition worsened my health," he added.

Ram Prasad Ram (Madanpur), Harihar Barai (Amba), Md Jalauddin (Aurangabad town), Suruchi Devi and Gopal Prasad Singh (both residents of Aurangabad) were among others undergoing treatment at the sadar hospital.

Nawada DM Kaushal Kumar said six people were undergoing treatment at Sadar hospital in the town till late Saturday evening.

