Depts given directives to strengthen response measures against heatwave

Varanasi: Additional district magistrate (finance/revenue) Bandita Srivastava on Friday reviewed the measures taken by various departments against heatwaves.
She highlighted IMD's forecast of potential temperature rise this year.
She emphasised completing essential safety measures to protect residents from heatwaves. She warned of strict action against officials if water shortages occur during summer.
The official stressed preventing heat-related casualties and mandated comprehensive awareness drives about safety protocols by all departments. The health department received instructions to reserve beds for heatwave patients in district hospitals and health centres, ensure cool rooms with regular monitoring, maintain ORS and fluid supplies across hospitals/PHCs/CHCs, stock essential medicines at primary and community health centres, and maintain round-the-clock operations during heatwaves.
Additional directives included conducting awareness campaigns, following death investigation protocols, and maintaining uniform registration of heatwave-related fatalities.
Municipal authorities were instructed to supply clean drinking water at urban markets/intersections and public spaces, coordinate with the disaster office for location listings, arrange water tankers as required, identify shaded urban areas for water stalls, utilise Smart City LED screens for safety messages, employ PA systems for prevention measures, establish water issue control rooms, ensure park shading, implement road water sprinkling, and install water coolers in major public areas.
She directed the animal husbandry department to mobilise regional staff and cattle herders for livestock management awareness, ensure adequate water provisions for cattle, implement sprinkler systems, conduct regular vaccinations, maintain medicine stocks at animal centres, educate villagers about animal safety, and submit cattle shelter and livestock details to the disaster office.
Instructions to the fire department included maintaining 24/7 operational sub-centres with necessary resources, raising fire prevention awareness, conducting fire audits of hospitals, schools, and govt departments, training village panchayat representatives in fire prevention and positioning fire teams in historically high-risk areas.