Recent heat wave in India

The recent heatwave in India has had significant impacts on the country. Here are some key points:

Heatwave Intensity: India has experienced increasingly intense heatwaves in recent years, with hot days and nights rising significantly. These heatwaves are arriving earlier, staying longer, and becoming more frequent.

Health Impacts: There has been a 55% rise in deaths due to extreme heat between 2000-2004 and 2017-2021. 

Heat-related health issues include exacerbation of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, heatstroke, adverse pregnancy outcomes, worsened sleep patterns, poor mental health, and increased injury-related death.

Economic Consequences: The heat exposure caused a loss of 167.2 billion potential labor hours among Indians in 2021, which is equivalent to about 5.4% of the country’s GDP.

Climate Change Link: Studies have found that climate change has made such extreme heatwaves much more likely. Without climate change, the likelihood of such temperatures would be significantly lower.

Government Response: Despite efforts like the heat action plan initiated in Ahmedabad, which reduced deaths from all causes by a third by 2018, overall, India’s heat action plans do not seem to be working effectively. The recent event in Navi Mumbai, where 12 people died from heatstroke, indicates a need for better implementation of these plans.

The situation underscores the urgency for more robust measures to mitigate the effects of heatwaves and adapt to the changing climate.

The Heat Action Plan (HAP) initiated in Ahmedabad is a comprehensive strategy designed to combat the health threats posed by extreme heatwaves. Here are the key components of the plan:

Early Warning System and Alerts: The HAP includes an early warning system to alert residents about upcoming extreme heat conditions. This system is coordinated with the Indian Meteorological Department’s forecasts.

Public Awareness: The plan emphasizes building public awareness and community outreach. It disseminates information on how to protect against extreme heat through various media outlets, including text messages, emails, radio, and social media platforms like WhatsApp.

Healthcare Professional Training: There is a focus on capacity building among healthcare professionals to recognize and respond to heat-related illnesses effectively during heatwave events.

Adaptive Measures: The HAP promotes adaptive measures such as the Cool Roofs Program, which aims to reduce heat exposure by making roofs in the city more reflective to sunlight.

Inter-Agency Coordination: It establishes formal communication channels among government agencies, health officials, hospitals, emergency responders, and local community groups to coordinate a response to extreme temperatures.

The Ahmedabad HAP was developed after a severe heatwave in 2010 and has been updated periodically. It serves as a guide for implementing, coordinating, and evaluating extreme heat response activities in the city. The plan has been effective in reducing heat-related mortality and improving the city’s resilience to heatwaves