Heat wave has claimed another life, this time of a six-month old baby. He died after falling ill on a train running between Dibrugarh and New Delhi.
The family reported to the Railway authorities that the child was seriously ill when the Brahmputra Mail arrived at Allahabad Junction on Friday.
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As per Hindustan Times news report, the train had halted on the outers of Allahabad junction for an extended period, following which the condition of the already ill child deteriorated.
A doctor from the Railway hospital reached the station a few minutes later, but the passengers had already taken the infant to hospital, an official said. Doctors there declared the child dead.
North Central Railway spokesperson Gaurav Krishan Bansal rejected allegations that there was negligence, saying the Railways acted immediately on being informed that the child was ill.
He said since the child was in a non-AC coach, the failure of air-conditioning was not an issue.
The child was travelling with three family members, who are from Bhabua in Bihar.
A senior Railway official was informed about the child falling ill at 8.38 am and a doctor reached the station at 8.49 am, according to the Railways.
However, passengers created a ruckus at the junction alleging negligence by railway officials.
The death of the infant comes a day after Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heat wave conditions for the coming week.
IMD said, the weather in remaining parts of northwestern plains such as Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh will also remain dry, hot and sunny. Isolated dust storm and thundershowers cannot be ruled out. Heatwave conditions may also occur in parts of north Rajasthan and south Haryana.
(with agency inputs)