The countrywide heat wave that swept through the last few weeks has affected public health here, with at least 15 people dying of heatstroke related to the heat wave in two weeks.

Meanwhile, the High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain why the inaction of the authorities concerned in taking short and long-term plans to formulate policies and action plans to control consequences from heat waves should not be declared illegal.

According to a report from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), it has confirmed the deaths of 15 people across the country due to heatstroke from 22 April to 5 May.

Health authority sources said, so far, 34 people have suffered from heatstroke throughout the country during the period.

However, according to unofficial sources, the actual number of deaths from heatstroke is several times higher.

Many incidents of death from heatstroke were not officially reported to the health directorate, despite the DGHS beginning to keep records of heatstroke-related deaths from 22 April.

The DGHS usually keeps records of cases related to winter diseases and releases the data to the public. However, this is the first time the health authority has released data on heat strokes, DGHS officials said.

Many people die from heatstroke almost every year during heat waves, but the health directorate lacks specific comprehensive data regarding both the cases and deaths.

Sources from the DGHS officials said of the deceased, seven died of heatstroke in Magura and others from Khulna, Magura, Chattogram, Bandarban, Habiganj, Rajbari, Lalmonirhat, Jhenidah, and Madaripur.

A mild to very severe heat wave swept through the country for about a month starting from the first week of April. Later, temperatures began to fall across the country after rains in the first week of the current month.