Delhi’s 2025 heatwave plan: How the capital is preparing schools, hospitals, and city infrastructure to stay safe this summer

The Delhi government has unveiled its Heat Action Plan for 2025 to combat the intense heatwaves that often grip the city. The plan, launched on Monday, includes a range of measures aimed at reducing the effects of extreme temperatures on residents. Some key steps include setting up heatwave wards in hospitals, placing 3,000 water coolers across the city, introducing an early warning system to alert people about heatwaves, and building eco-friendly bus stop shelters with green roofs. In addition, cooling shades will be installed along footpaths to provide some relief for pedestrians.

According to a TOI report, the Heat Action Plan was launched by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also introduced three pilot projects for cool roofs in various parts of the city. The government has instructed healthcare facilities to set up dedicated units equipped with ICU facilities and necessary medicine stocks for patients suffering from heatstroke. These units will focus on treating heatstroke cases, a growing concern during intense heatwaves.

To strengthen monitoring and analysis, the plan stipulates that hospitals should keep records of heatstroke cases, including ward-wise details, causes of death, daily mortality rates, and admissions related to heat. Chief Minister Gupta stated, "Heatwave wards are being set up in major hospitals, which will have cooling facilities, ORS stocks, and trained staff."


The government is also focusing on schools, advising that class timings be rescheduled to avoid the hottest parts of the day. This means schools can start early and finish before noon. The initiative will impact over 1.4 million students across more than 5,500 schools in Delhi. These students will be trained in disaster management and heatwave preparedness. The ‘Water Bell’ initiative will also encourage students to stay hydrated.

Delhi’s Water Minister, Parvesh Verma, added that water kiosks would be set up across the city to provide drinking water to around four to five lakh people, helping prevent dehydration during the scorching heat.

To ensure timely information on heatwaves, the government will issue alerts through mobile messages, media, and web portals. These alerts will be based on the colour-coded heat warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which range from green to red, with red indicating extreme heat. The alerts will be used to take appropriate action in different departments and neighbourhoods.

The plan also includes the deployment of around 1,800 trained volunteers, known as Aapda Mitra, who will act as first responders in heat emergencies. Chief Minister Gupta praised the volunteers, calling them "the living symbol of the government’s vigilance and spirit of service." These volunteers will be at the forefront of the Heat Action initiative.

Additionally, three cool roof pilot projects have been virtually inaugurated by the Chief Minister at Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and the Delhi Secretariat. The government plans to increase the number of these projects in the near future, particularly in areas with high population density and informal settlements.

This comprehensive plan is a step towards reducing the impact of heatwaves on Delhi’s residents and ensuring that the city is better prepared for the challenges posed by rising temperatures.

Inputs from TOI