Emergencies rise by 20% as city feels heat

Ahmedabad: As the scorching heat of summer intensifies across Gujarat, so does the demand for emergency medical assistance. Between March 1 and April 9, the EMRI 108 ambulances recorded 32,984 heat-related emergencies in Gujarat. However, in Ahmedabad city, the number of heat-related emergencies surged from 7,528 to 9,032, indicating a significant 20% rise year-on-year.
Consequently, the city’s heat-related emergencies were nearly three times higher than the overall cases recorded in Gujarat, according to helpline officials.
March saw a 17% rise in cases year-on-year for Ahmedabad, while the first nine days of April recorded a staggering 29.5% increase. In contrast, Gujarat experienced a 6% rise in March and a 10.5% increase in the first nine days of April. Notably, Gujarat reported 10 heatstroke cases in March and three cases in April so far.
The most notable rise in Gujarat was observed in vomiting and diarrhoea cases, up by 25% compared to last year, followed by a 22% increase in headache cases. Ahmedabad mirrored this trend, with both categories showing a substantial 51.5% rise. Interestingly, the city had not recorded any heatstroke cases until April 9. Other common emergencies reported included abdominal pain, fainting and a high fever.
EMRI officials attributed the higher number of cases in Ahmedabad to factors such as its dense population, heightened awareness, and the heat island effect where urban areas trap heat due to infrastructure, exacerbating its impact on residents.
In addition to heat-related issues, citizens are grappling with viral infections, defying the typical decline seen with the onset of summer, said physicians in Ahmedabad. “Clinics are seeing patients with symptoms like cough, cold, occasional fever and throat pain. Mixed weather is the only logical explanation for this unusual trend,” said Dr Kamlesh Naik, a physician.
Dr Maharshi Desai, an internal medicine specialist at Apollo Hospital, said that many cases are prolonged, lasting one to two weeks. “While it’s not the usual season for viral infections, we’re seeing a range of cases from Covid to H1N1 and cold to laryngitis. We anticipate a decline as temperatures continue to rise,” he said.