As Jharkhand sizzles with nearly a dozen districts' temperatures breaching 43°C and heat wave alerts issued across the state, an NGO released a public perception survey on heat waves and a health advisory for the masses.

In the public perception survey conducted by SwitchON Foundation among 116 participants from Jharkhand this month aimed to gauge perception on heat wave challenges, impact on daily life, mitigation strategies and awareness, over 95 per cent reported that the severity of heat waves has increased over time.

Around 66.1 per cent of the respondents claimed to know individuals who succumbed to heat waves in the past. A majority of respondents (68.42 per cent of women and 62.82 per cent of men) identified heat rash as the primary concern during heat waves. While 68.42 per cent women and 50 per cent men claimed headache as the concern.

Other health issues like dizziness, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, nausea and heat stroke were also reported by the respondents.

The most prevalent challenges during heat waves are power outages and water shortages. More than 51 per cent of the respondents encounter both of these issues during such conditions. While 41.38 per cent identified that the availability of cooling facilities for people in Jharkhand during extreme heat is limited.

In all 36.21 per cent respondents reported that heat waves have a substantial economic impact on them.

Meanwhile, the health advisory prepared by the consultant pediatrician at Ranchi PALS Centre, Dr O.P. Mahansaria and consultant pulmonologist at Raj Hospital, Ranchi, Dr Suprova Chakraborty, was released by the NGO on the escalating concerns surrounding heat waves and its detrimental effects on public health.

“The health advisory provides preventive measures and practices that should be adopted to tackle the wrath of extreme heat waves. In light of the extreme erratic weather conditions, the medical community emphasized the urgent need for heightened awareness and precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being of individuals,” said Gargi Maitra of the foundation.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the temperature in a dozen out of 24 districts breached 43°C.

Met scientist at Ranchi, Abhishek Anand, said that the temperature will rise further two degrees Celsius in the next few days in most of the districts.

He also said that the department has issued a heat wave alert in most of the districts.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand school education and literacy department on Saturday afternoon issued a notification to change school timings due to the intense heat.