Beating the heat? India’s fight against heatwaves is on but without a long-term plan

As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) signals another spell of intense heatwaves, states and Union Territories are rushing to implement measures to safeguard citizens from extreme temperatures, TOI has reported.

The Centre has repeatedly issued advisories urging local administrations to take precautionary steps as the country prepares for yet another harsh summer.

This year, hospital preparedness has emerged as a major concern. In regions such as Churu, Jhansi, Nagpur, Delhi, Bilaspur, Vijayawada, and Daltonganj, where temperatures often turn pavements into heat radiators by midday, authorities are focusing on saving the most vulnerable lives.

By April-end, hospitals in Lucknow had started issuing daily temperature alerts while stocking essential supplies like oral rehydration salts, glucose, and IV fluids. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh ordered clinics to provide drinking water at entrances and ensure air-conditioned emergency wards are ready. The response stems from last year’s grim experience when the state recorded 54 deaths during the extended election period. In Kanpur, the administration partnered with NGOs and donors to set up cooling shelters at public intersections and railway stations.

In Odisha, where nearly 150 deaths were recorded during the 2024 summer, stricter measures have been enforced. Air-conditioned rooms are now mandatory in government hospitals, and ambulances have been equipped with cooling systems. “Our focus is on preparedness as much as prevention,” said Dr Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, director of health services.

Rajasthan’s desert districts such as Barmer and Jaisalmer are adopting localized strategies after 17 people died from heatstroke last May. A colour-coded alert system, red for extreme danger and orange for severe heat, guides daily readiness protocols. Hospitals receive instructions every morning to prepare beds, cooling equipment, and deploy rapid response teams. However, officials admit that much of the response still relies on voluntary contributions.

In Karnataka, where northeastern districts routinely record temperatures of 43°C early in the season, the death toll has remained low this year. Still, proactive steps have been taken. Government office hours have been rescheduled, MGNREGA workloads for daily wage workers have been reduced by 30%, and rehydration stations have been established in hospitals and markets. Shade nets have also been installed at traffic intersections to protect motorists waiting at signals.

In Bihar, where 14 people died in just 24 hours last summer, the administration has revised work schedules for labourers to limit exposure during peak heat hours. Construction sites now provide ice packs and shaded rest areas for workers.

Despite these efforts, experts warn that short-term measures are not enough. A recent review of heat action plans found that most strategies focus on immediate responses while overlooking long-term urban challenges. Poorly planned neighborhoods face greater risks due to lack of green spaces and inadequate infrastructure. Studies in Mumbai and Bengaluru have shown that slum areas and industrial zones can record temperatures up to 6°C higher than greener localities. In Bengaluru, nighttime land surface temperatures in marginalized zones have risen sharply over the last two decades.

Uniform heat action plans fail to account for India’s five geo-climatic zones—hot-dry, warm-humid, composite, temperate, and cold—which experience heat differently. Material choices, ventilation, and shelter designs need to reflect these variations. Even within a single state, hyperlocal planning is necessary.

Coordination across multiple government departments also remains a challenge. While cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru have advanced climate frameworks, they lack dedicated heat plans for their most vulnerable areas. Experts emphasize that integrating hyperlocal temperature data with health and socio-economic indicators is crucial to tailoring responses effectively.

“We’ve come a long way but, still, the reality of heat preparedness in India is that it is often knee-jerk. We’re always hoping that the new summer will be more benign than the earlier one,” TOI quoted a senior health official in Uttar Pradesh as saying. “Hospitals, no matter how well intentioned, face resource constraints. Cooling systems depend on steady electricity, hydration kiosks on reliable water supply, emergency wards on enough trained personnel. All of these need to come together.”


(With inputs from TOI)