Powered by

Advertisment
Home Latest

India records alarming rise in heatwave days: Govt in Lok Sabha

Heatwave days in India surged to 554 in 2024, up from 230 in 2023. The government ramps up mitigation measures, including a Heat Action Plan, warnings, and community preparedness initiatives

By Ground Report Desk
New Update
Kashmir faces water crisis amid record heatwave

Photo credit: Canva

India experienced a surge in heatwave days in 2024, recording 554 days compared to 230 in 2023, underscoring the growing threat of climate-induced heat stress. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Union Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, presented these figures to the Rajya Sabha on December 5, 2024.

Advertisment

The government has noted this alarming trend and initiated measures to mitigate the impact of heat waves on public health and safety. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local health departments, has rolled out a comprehensive Heat Action Plan (HAP) across various states. This initiative focuses on forewarning the public about impending heatwaves and providing actionable advice to reduce their effects.

IMD has intensified efforts to provide real-time heatwave forecasts and warnings to stakeholders like Union ministries, state governments, and local bodies. Alerts are issued using a colour-coded system to signal heatwave severity and recommend actions to mitigate risks.

Warnings are disseminated through IMD’s website, APIs, Common Alert Protocol (CAP), WhatsApp, and email. Regular national and state-level heatwave preparedness meetings are conducted before the summer season, with periodic reviews during the season.

The NDMA has developed guidelines to protect vulnerable groups, particularly laborers disproportionately affected by extreme heat.

Heatwave data shows regional disparities

Data from the past three years reveals significant regional variations in heatwave occurrences. Key findings include:

  • Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar consistently report high heatwave days, with Odisha recording 37 days in 2024, up from 24 in 2023.

  • East and West Uttar Pradesh saw sharp increases, with 33 and 32 heatwave days in 2024 compared to significantly lower numbers in 2023.

  • Southern states, which typically report fewer heatwave days, also saw increases. North Interior Karnataka recorded 18 heatwave days in 2024, up from none in 2023.

Region 2022 2023 2024
Assam & Meghalaya 0 0 1
N M M T 0 0 0
SHWB & Sikkim 1 15 11
Gangetic West Bengal 8 27 31
Odisha 11 24 37
Jharkhand 27 16 23
Bihar 13 29 30
East Uttar Pradesh 33 11 33
West Uttar Pradesh 28 5 32
Uttarakhand 5 0 10
Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi 37 5 30
Punjab 22 3 27
Himachal Pradesh 38 0 18
Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh 19 0 11
West Rajasthan 58 3 29
East Rajasthan 28 0 23
West Madhya Pradesh 42 4 24
East Madhya Pradesh 34 13 26
Gujarat Region 13 1 14
Saurashtra & Kutch 25 4 16
Konkan & Goa 2 6 4
Madhya Maharashtra 2 1 8
Marathwada 0 0 3
Vidarbha 18 11 11
Chhattisgarh 3 12 13
Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam 0 22 11
Telangana 0 14 12
Rayalaseema 0 1 16
Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal 0 1 13
Coastal Karnataka 0 2 3
North Interior Karnataka 0 0 18
South Interior Karnataka 0 0 10
Kerala & Mahe 0 0 6
Total Heatwave Days 467 230 554

Cumulative heatwave days in India surged from 467 in 2022 to 554 in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for climate resilience measures.

A call for preparedness

The rise in heatwave days highlights the escalating challenges of climate change. The government’s proactive approach, including the Heat Action Plan and real-time alerts, marks a crucial step towards safeguarding public health. However, sustained efforts at community, state, and national levels are essential to mitigate the long-term impact of extreme heat events on the Indian population.

Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

Keep Reading

Watch: Kashmir experiences first snowfall of season after dry spell

Amarnath Yatra: Tackling rising death toll from extreme weather events

Tourists arrival in Kashmir break records, a need to regulate it?

From tourist paradise to waste wasteland: Sindh River Cry for help

Follow Ground Report on X, Instagram and Facebook for environmental and underreported stories from the margins. Give us feedback on our email id [email protected]

Don't forget to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Join our community on WhatsApp, and Follow our YouTube Channel for video stories.