Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen has instructed the authorities concerned to keep their hospitals ready as the ongoing heatwave is baking the country, causing a surge of heat-related illnesses.

The minister came up with the instruction on Sunday at a virtual meeting held among civil surgeons, hospital directors of the country, and the ministry officials.

Due to the heatwave, hospital authorities have been asked to be prepared for adverse conditions and instructed not to hospitalise patients who do not need to be admitted now, he told reporters after the meeting at the secretariat.

Mentioning that elderly people and children are the most vulnerable during heatwaves, the minister advised that they should refrain from going outside unless it is necessary.

On Saturday, the government decided to keep all schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical education institutions across the country closed from 21 April to 27 April due to the prevailing heatwave.