Lok Sabha Question No. 3667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Rising Global Temperature
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3667

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 02, 2019

## RISING GLOBAL TEMPERATURE

## 3667. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN :

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of global rise in temperature especially in Indian continent in the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  a  large  number  of  deaths  due  to  intensive  heat  waves were reported in various parts of the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted or proposes to conduct a detailed scientific study on the 'heat wave' phenomenon in various parts of the country and if so, the details thereof including Kerala;
- (d) whether the Government has also assessed the impact of intensive heat  waves on human beings and flora and fauna of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the remedial measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to address the issue?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) Yes Madam, Government has taken note of rise in global temperatures. With  this  global  warming,  surface  air  temperatures  over  India  also showed appreciable rise.
- (b) Yes,  deaths  due  to  Heat  wave  during  2010-2018  years  are  given  in table below.

|   Year |   Deaths due to Heat wave |
|--------|---------------------------|
|   2010 |                       269 |
|   2011 |                        12 |
|   2012 |                       729 |
|   2013 |                      1433 |
|   2014 |                       548 |
|   2015 |                      2081 |
|   2016 |                       700 |
|   2017 |                       375 |
|   2018 |                        20 |

State wise statistics for the year 2017 and 2018 are given in AnnexureI.    However,  the  deaths  due  to  heat  waves  are  not  reported  from Kerala. It is further mentioned that due to improved weather forecasts and heat action plans by different states, number of people dying from heat wave is reduced substantially during the recent years.

- (c) A latest study shows that heat waves have increased in many parts of the  country.  In  India,  the  heat  wave  (HW)  conditions  are  generally experienced  during  the  period  from  March  to  July.    It  has  been observed that during the hot weather season (April-May-June), stations from  the  states  of  Punjab,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Uttarakhand,  Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,  Bihar,  Jharkhand,  West  Bengal,  Orissa  and  Telangana and  met  subdivisions  of  Marathwada,  Vidarbha,  Madhya  Maharashtra and  coastal  Andhra  Pradeshexperience  heat  waves  and  severe  heat waves.

In the State of Kerala, during the last five years heat wave condition was  declared  only  during  April-May  2016  for  five  days  in  Palakkad,

Kozhikode and Kannur districts.

- (d) Abnormal temperature events can impose severe physiological stress on  the  human  body  as  the  body  operates  best  within  a  fairly  normal temperature  range.    There  is  a  marked  relationship  between  human mortality  and  thermal  stress.  During  unusually  hot  episodes,  deaths from different causes can rise significantly with the elderly at greater risk than others.
- (e) As  an  adaptive  measure,  IMD  in  collaboration  with  state  health departments  have  started  heat  action  plan  in  many  parts  of  the country to forewarn the heat waves and advising action to be taken during  these  occasions.    The  Heat  Action  Plan  is  a  comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat events. The  Plan  presents  immediate  and  longer-term  actions  to  increase preparedness, information-sharing, and response coordination to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations. The main aims of the Heat Action Plan are Building Public Awareness and Community Outreach, Utilizing an Early Warning System and InterAgency Coordination, Capacity Building among Health Care Professionals  and  Reducing  Heat  Exposure  and  Promoting  Adaptive Measures.

Annexure-I State wise statistics for the year 2017 and 2018 for Deaths due to Heat wave according to reports received

| Deaths due to Heat wave during the year 2017   | Deaths due to Heat wave during the year 2017   |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| State                                          | No. of Deaths                                  |
| Andhra Pradesh                                 | 236                                            |
| Jharkhand                                      | 4                                              |
| Maharashtra                                    | 16                                             |
| Odisha                                         | 17                                             |
| Telangana                                      | 100                                            |
| West Bengal                                    | 2                                              |
| Total                                          | 375                                            |

| Deaths due to Heat wave during the year 2018   | Deaths due to Heat wave during the year 2018   |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| State                                          | No. of Deaths                                  |
| Maharashtra                                    | 9                                              |
| U.P.                                           | 9                                              |
| Jharkhand                                      | 2                                              |
| Total                                          | 20                                             |