As of June 30, 2023, Kerala reported the highest number of heatwave-related deaths, with a total of 120 fatalities. Gujarat followed closely with 35 reported deaths, as stated by Prof. Satya Pal Singh Baghel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare during his address to the Lok Sabha.
Several other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, also recorded heatwave fatalities.
In response to growing concerns about heat wave deaths in the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken significant steps to mitigate the impact of climate change on human health. Prof. Satya Pal Singh Baghel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, revealed the details of the government’s efforts in a recent statement.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) in 2019 with the aim of raising awareness, strengthening health systems, and improving preparedness and response to face the effects of climate change on human health. The implementation of the program aims to address the challenges posed by heat waves and reduce heat wave-related deaths in all states including Tamil Nadu.
Heatwave deaths in India in last 10 years
| States/UTs | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 (Till 30.06.2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 1422 | 723 | 236 | 8 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | — | — | — | — | NR | 1 | NR | 0 | 0 |
| Bihar | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 121 | NR | NR | 0 | 8 |
| Chhattisgarh | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NR | NR | 0 |
| Delhi | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | NR | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Goa | — | — | — | — | 0 | NR | NR | 0 | 0 |
| Gujarat | 17 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 8 | NR | NR | 0 | 35 |
| Haryana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NR | NR | NR | 0 |
| Himachal Pradesh | — | — | — | — | 0 | NR | NR | NR | 9 |
| J&K (Jammu Division) | — | — | — | — | 0 | 1 | NR | 0 | 0 |
| J&K (Kashmir Division) | 0 | 2 | NR | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Jharkhand | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NR | NR | NR | 0 |
| Karnataka | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | NR | 0 | NR | 1 |
| Kerala | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 120 |
| Madhya Pradesh | — | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | NR | NR | NR | 10 |
| Maharashtra | — | 7 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 0 | NR | 27 | 14 |
| Odisha | 60 | 36 | 17 | 7 | 0 | NR | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Punjab | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NR | NR | 0 | 0 |
| Rajasthan | — | 9 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | NR | NR | 0 |
| Tamil Nadu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | NR | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Telangana | 541 | 324 | 108 | 0 | 42 | NR | NR | 2 | 20 |
| Uttar Pradesh | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | NR | 0 | NR | 12 |
| Uttarakhand | — | — | — | — | 0 | NR | NR | 0 | 0 |
| West Bengal | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | NR | NR | NR | NR | 11 |
Key Initiatives to combat Heat Wave impact
Under the NPCCHH, the Union Ministry of Health has implemented several initiatives aimed at addressing problems related to heat waves and protecting the health of citizens in vulnerable regions. These measures include:
State officials have advised increasing general awareness through various information, education, and communication (IEC) activities for the dissemination of awareness messages. The public has been educated about the health impact of heat waves and preventive measures through awareness workshops.
Capacity Building: The NPCCHH conducts trainings and workshops for health care professionals and workers at the state and district levels. The goal is to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively track and manage heat-related health problems.
National Action Plan: In July 2021, the “National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses” was published. This comprehensive plan outlines strategies to combat heat-related illnesses and reduce associated deaths.
The advisory recommends that states, including Tamil Nadu, develop their heat health sector plans. The focus is on raising awareness, improving the capacity of the health system and strengthening the health infrastructure to treat heat-related illnesses.
Early Warning System: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues heat wave alerts as part of an early warning system. The State Nodal Officials-Climate Change shares these alerts to guarantee the preparation and monitoring of health facilities.
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