Context:

India experienced severe heatwaves in March 2025, 20 days sooner than in 2024. This underlines the critical need for short- and long-term policies to combat heat stress and its cascade effects.

About Heatwaves:

Definition:

A heatwave is a prolonged period of intense heat, sometimes combined with high humidity, that significantly impacts human health, agriculture, and ecosystems.

Key features:

• In India, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature exceeds 40°C in the plains and 30°C in hills.
• Humidity, wind speed, and urban heat islands all contribute to its intensity.
• Global warming and climate change are important causes of the increased frequency and intensity.

Causes:

• Metropolitan Heat Island Effect: Researchers observed that even in the nineteenth century, metropolitan areas had greater temperatures than rural areas due to concrete structures, a lack of flora, and human activity. This worsens heat stress in cities.
• Climate Change as a Driver: Rising temperatures and changed weather patterns are attributed to climate change, which plays a role in intensifying and prolonging heatwave episodes. El Niño can also lead to greater temperatures.

Health and Socio-Economic Impacts of Rising Heatwaves in India

Heat wave frequency, intensity, and length are rising significantly in India, endangering public health, the economy, and environmental sustainability all around.

Frequency and Severity of Heatwaves

• In India, December 2022 was the hottest month since temperature records began in 1901.  
• Overall, India has experienced more heatwaves in the recent 20 years than the previous 20 years.
• According to the World Meteorological Organisation, 2024 was the warmest year on record, with temperatures 1.55°C higher worldwide than pre-industrial levels.  
• January 2025 marked the 18th out of 19 months with global temperatures crossing the 1.5°C threshold, threatening the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 2°C.

Public Health Consequences

• Heat stress occurs when external temperatures approach the body’s normal 37°C, disrupting the body’s ability to regulate heat.
• This can lead to organ damage (kidneys, liver, brain) and even death.
• 90% of Indians are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, especially in regions with poor healthcare infrastructure.
• For example, the 2015 heatwave in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana caused over 2,000 deaths.

Impact on Agriculture and Food Security

• Rising temperatures reduce agricultural productivity, damage crops, and affect livestock health.
• In 2020, heatwaves caused significant crop losses in Punjab and Haryana, particularly in wheat and paddy yields.
• Water scarcity worsens the issue:
• India holds only 4% of the world’s freshwater but supports 18% of the global population.
• Around 54% of India’s land faces high to extreme water stress (WRI).
• Declining groundwater levels and rising irrigation demands threaten long-term food security.

Economic and Labour Impact

• About 75% of India’s workforce (~380 million people) is exposed to heat, mainly in labour-intensive sectors like construction and farming.
• In 2023, around 6% of work hours were lost due to heat stress.
• Heat-related GDP losses are estimated at 3–5%, and the World Bank warns of up to 34 million job losses in India by 2030 due to heat stress.

Energy Demand and Infrastructure Strain

• Rising temperatures drive a surge in cooling-related electrical demand, which results in power interruptions and disturbance of industrial activities.
• Dependent on water for cooling, thermal power plants—which account for 70% of India's electricity—are susceptible during heat waves limited by water scarcity.

Social and Gender Inequities

• Vulnerable groups—including the poor, migrants, elderly, women, and informal workers—are disproportionately affected.
• Women face added risk due to indoor cooking, dress norms, and inadequate sleeping arrangements in poorly ventilated homes.
• The urban poor suffer more due to heat-trapping environments and poor-quality housing.

Challenges and Strategies in Tackling Heatwaves in India

Climate change is causing rising frequency and intensity of heat waves in India, which presents major difficulties for reducing their effects on urban infrastructure, public health, and sensitive populations. Policy frameworks such as Heat Action Plans (HAPs) exist, but practical on-ground implementation is still somewhat rare.

Key Challenges in Addressing Heatwaves

Inadequate Implementation of Heat Action Plans

• Many cities have developed HAPs, but these lack clear accountability mechanisms, adequate funding, and inter-agency coordination.
• Absence of regular monitoring and periodic reviews further weaken their effectiveness.

Poor Data Ecosystem

• There is underreporting of heat-related illnesses and deaths.
• Incomplete morbidity and mortality data hinder evidence-based decision-making and targeted intervention planning.

Urban Vulnerabilities

• Densely populated areas, especially urban slums, are more exposed due to:
• Poor ventilation
• Heat-retaining materials in housing
• Lack of green cover and open spaces
• ‘Stay indoors’ advisories are often impractical for informal sector workers and slum dwellers.

Insufficient Public Infrastructure

• Lack of cooling shelters, public drinking water points, and ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) access, particularly in low-income areas, exacerbates vulnerability.
• Public awareness on heat safety remains patchy and inconsistent.

Strategies for Effective Heatwave Mitigation

Strengthening Local Interventions

• Promotion of cool roofs, green infrastructure, and urban greening to reduce heat absorption.
• Enhance early warning systems through robust IMD–NDMA coordination.
• Use of Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for timely and efficient public communication.

Protecting Vulnerable Populations

• Rescheduling work hours for outdoor laborers during peak heat.
• Provision of cooling vests and shaded rest areas.
• Establishment of ‘cool rooms’ with clean drinking water in high-risk zones.
• Ensuring hospital preparedness with dedicated heat illness management protocols.

Water Conservation and Access

• Promotion of rooftop rainwater harvesting.
• Installation of community water kiosks in heat-prone localities.
• Encouraging water conservation education in schools and public platforms.

What is the present scenario in India in terms of heat waves? Heatwave Days Have Increased: India has experienced more heatwave days over the last decade. In 2022, around 121 heatwave days were recorded across the country, down from the previous year but still indicative of a developing trend. Record-breaking temperatures: In May 2024, northern India saw severe heat waves, with temperatures as high as 49.1°C in New Delhi. Over 37 cities reported temperatures over 45°C, leading to 56 verified deaths and 25,000 probable cases of heatstroke. Projections of Future Heatwave Intensification: Future forecasts show that climate change will cause a significant rise in the frequency of heatwaves. According to the RCP 4.5 scenario, the frequency of heatwaves in India is anticipated to increase by 4 to 7 in the medium term and 5 to 10 times in the long run.

India’s Heat Action Plans: Evolution, Challenges, and the Way Forward

Background and Initial Implementation

• India’s structured response to heatwaves began in 2013 with the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan, the first municipal-level plan in Asia.
• The Ahmedabad HAP focused on early warning systems, public awareness, and healthcare preparedness, helping reduce heat-related mortality.
• Success in Ahmedabad led to replication across cities; by 2018, over 20 cities and states had adopted their own HAPs.

National Coordination and Institutional Framework

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) plays a key role in:
• Recognizing heatwaves as a serious hazard.
• Conducting national workshops to improve heatwave preparedness.
• Issuing guidelines for state and local HAPs.
• Introduced in 2018, the National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) seeks coordinated medical responses to hot extremes brought on by climate change.

Policy Evolution and National Framework (2024)

• In 2024, India introduced the National Framework for Heatwave Mitigation and Management, shifting focus from short-term response to long-term resilience.
• Key features of the framework include:
• Local vulnerability assessments.
• Community engagement.
• Inter-sectoral coordination.
• Encouragement to classify heatwaves as disasters for improved resource allocation.
• Mandates regular updates to HAPs using data-driven assessments.

Key Components of Heat Action Plans

1. Early Warning Systems: Use of IMD forecasts, mobile alerts, and real-time temperature data.
2. Public Awareness Campaigns: Community outreach, health advisories, and dissemination of coping strategies.
3. Healthcare Preparedness: Training medical staff, stocking ORS, and ensuring emergency services.
4. Cooling Infrastructure: Establishing cooling centers, summer shelters, and shaded spaces.
5. Urban Mitigation Measures:
• Promotion of cool roofs and reflective building materials.
• Expansion of green cover and shaded walkways.
6. Inclusive Approaches: Focus on marginalized groups, such as migrant workers, the elderly, and informal workers.

Challenges in Implementation

• Lack of localized planning: Many HAPs are not tailored to city-specific vulnerabilities like humidity, urban heat islands, or housing density.
• Insufficient coordination between stakeholders such as local bodies, health departments, and NGOs.
• Data limitations hinder real-time heat stress predictions and accurate attribution of mortality.
• Limited financial resources, especially if heatwaves are not officially notified disasters under the Disaster Management Act.

Recommendations and Way Forward

Short-Term Measures

• Update and localize HAPs with region-specific risk parameters.
• Adopt Heat Health Alert (HHA) systems considering both day and night temperatures.
• Provide drinking water, ORS packets, and enforce staggered work hours for laborers.
• Issue targeted advisories for high-risk occupations and communities.

Long-Term Measures

• Integrate climate-resilient urban planning with focus on sustainable architecture, cool roofing, and urban greening.
• Set up ‘summer shelters’ and mobile cooling units for vulnerable populations.
• Train the workforce in heat-resilient construction practices.
• Provide wage-loss insurance for outdoor workers affected by extreme heat.
• Mainstream heatwave adaptation into urban, health, labor, and environmental policies.

Also Read: Call for Permanent Settlement for Tribals

Conclusion

India's growing heatwave threat necessitates a people-centric, equity-focused, science-based approach that combines immediate relief measures with long-term urban resilience plans. Proactive policymaking today can prevent serious public health and economic issues tomorrow.

Practice Questions: Discuss the causes, impact, and mitigation strategies for heat waves in India.