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By:

Dr. Jitendra Sakhrani

6 April 2026 at 5:32:40 pm

Rising temperatures triggering kidney issues

As heatwaves intensify across India, rising temperatures are not just causing dehydration but also kidney problems and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Follow the vital tips given by the expert in the article below and stay healthy during those sunny days. Just like heatwaves can trigger heart crises, rising temperatures are now causing a spike in kidney problems and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Excessive heat leads to dehydration, which stresses the kidneys and creates conditions that...

Rising temperatures triggering kidney issues

As heatwaves intensify across India, rising temperatures are not just causing dehydration but also kidney problems and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Follow the vital tips given by the expert in the article below and stay healthy during those sunny days. Just like heatwaves can trigger heart crises, rising temperatures are now causing a spike in kidney problems and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Excessive heat leads to dehydration, which stresses the kidneys and creates conditions that allow bacteria to grow in the urinary tract. Are you aware? Urban populations, outdoor workers, and older adults are particularly vulnerable. When it comes to kidneys, dehydration from prolonged heat, excessive sweating, and inadequate water intake reduces blood flow to these vital organs, inducing issues such as kidney stones, acute kidney injury, or worsening of existing kidney disease. Kidney-related issues can lead to lower back pain, reduced urine output, swelling in hands or feet, fatigue, or nausea that can interfere with the daily routine. Severe dehydration can lead to dizziness and confusion. Untreated kidney problems can escalate to kidney failure, electrolyte imbalance, or long-term damage requiring dialysis. Moreover, many also suffer from UTIs, which tend to happen when the bacteria multiply in the urinary tract, often worsened by dehydration, infrequent urination, or poor hygiene. The symptoms of UTI are burning sensations while urinating, frequent urges to urinate, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, lower abdominal discomfort, and fever. UTIs, if left untreated, can spread to the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis, a serious infection that can be life-threatening. The last word: So, everyone should prioritize their health during scorching heat. To prevent UTIs, hydration is key, so drink at least 2-3 litres of water every day. Avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol, which can dehydrate the body further. Maintain good personal hygiene, urinate from time to time, opt for breathable clothing to reduce UTI risk. For kidney health, moderate salt intake, avoid prolonged sun exposure, and rest during peak heat hours. (The writer is an urologist. Views personal.)

Unrest within Mahayuti

Updated: Jan 21, 2025

Mahayuti

Mumbai: The state administration on Sunday stalled the appointments of guardian ministers in Raigad and Nashik districts. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had cleared the appointments before he left for Davos in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum on Saturday. They are believed to have been stalled on behest of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the state in absence of the Chief Minister.


NCP’s Aditi Tatkare and BJP’s Girish Mahajan were entrusted with responsibilities of guardian minister for the Raigad and Nashik districts respectively, where Shiv Sena’s Bharat Gogawale and Dada Bhuse had staked claims. Gogawale is a first-time minister while, Bhuse had been the guardian minister of the district during previous government under Eknath Shinde.


Shiv Sena, NCP and BJP all the three constituents of Mahayuti have strong roots in both the districts. However, the Shiv Sena and the NCP had been particularly on loggerheads there. The Shiv Sena, which had been demanding the guardian minister’s post in Nashik district has managed to win only two assembly seats in the district where the NCP has Six and the BJP has Five MLAs. On the contrary, in Raigad the NCP has won only one seat while the Shiv Sena and the BJP both have Three MLAs each in the district.


Sunil Tatkare, MP from Raigad Lok Sabha constituency and the stat unit president of the NCP and father of Aditi Tatkare, had been the guardian minister of Raigad between 2004 and 2014. Gogawale had always been his political opponent before Tatkare joined the Mahayuti government under Ajit Pawar’s leadership in 2023. Gogawale claimed that all the Six Shiv Sena-BJP MLAs in the district had opined in his favour to be the guardian minister of the district and after the decision to appoint Aditi Tatkare was announced, his supporters resorted to violent protests. They burnt tyres in bid to stall traffic on highway in the district. Reacting to the developments, Tatkare said that the issue should be pondered over after CM Fadnavis returns from Davos on Saturday and settled amicably.


In Nashik Girish Mahajan had been the guardian minister of the district between 2014 and 2019 when Fadnavis was the Chief Minister.


The post of guardian minister doesn’t have any constitutional mandate and is considered to be a political appointment. Guardian ministers head the district planning and development councils (DPDC) that control the funds for development works being carried out in the particular district. This control wields much of political power to the minister in that district whereby spreading the party in the district becomes much easier. This is the reason why the grass root politicians seem to be very sensitive to such appointments.


While Gogawale and Bhuse are unhappy about not being appointed as guardian ministers, some others like NCP’s Hasan Mushrif and BJP’s Pankaja Munde are unhappy about not being appointed as guardian district in their home districts of Kolhapur and Beed respectively. DCM Shinde is learnt to have gone to his ancestral village Dare in Satara district after the decision and BJP’s firefighters Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Girish Mahajan are expected to meet him there to try finding a way out of the issue.

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