Lok Sabha Question No. 1020 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Death due to Heat and Cold
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1020

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 th  JULY, 2018/SHRAVANA 2, 1940 (SAKA)

DEATH DUE TO HEAT AND COLD

1020.   SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  deaths  occurred  due  to  sunstroke,  heat  and  cold  in  the country during the last three years, State-wise;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that there has been day by day increase in the deaths  of  very  poor  people  and  labourer  residing  close  to  cities  in comparison  to those living in rural areas which  are naturally less vulnerable areas;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps taken/being taken to prevent such deaths?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)  The  data  on  deaths  due  to  sunstroke,  heat  and  cold  is  not  being maintained  centrally  by  this  Ministry.  However,  as  per  the  information received from State Governments, the mortality on account of heat wave during  the  last  three  years  is  given  in  Annexure.  No  State  have  reported death due to cold.

(b)  and  (c)  Such  trend  could  not  be  observed  as  there  is  no  segregated economic  status-wise  information  available  on  deaths  occurred  due  to Sunstroke, heat and cold. However, as may be seen from the data, with the efforts  of  the  Central  Government  &  State  Government,  number  of  death due to heat wave have declined significantly.

## LS.US.Q.NO.1020 FOR 24.07.2018

(d)    The  primary  responsibility  to  take  necessary  measures  to  prevent death for sun stroke, heat and cold in the country rests with the concerned State  Governments.  The  Central  Government  through  National  Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has circulated do's and don'ts / advisories for  extreme  natural  events  to  States/  UTs  for  wider  circulation  and awareness  generation  among  all.  NDMA  has  also  released  guidelines  on 'Preparation of Action Plan - Prevention and Mitigation of Heat Wave' and circulated it to States/  UTs  for facilitating  them  to  take  necessary measures.

Awareness on do's and don'ts on various natural disasters including heat wave  etc.  are  being  carried  out  through  electronic  and  Social  Media  by NDMA and State Governments.

## LS.US.Q.NO.1020 FOR 24.07.2018

## Annexure

## Last three years Casualty recorded due to Heat wave

(Up to 15.07.2018 reported on 17.07.2018)

| S. No.   | Name of the State   | Deaths reported due to Heat wave   | Deaths reported due to Heat wave   |   Deaths reported due to Heat wave | Deaths reported due to Heat wave   |
|----------|---------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|          |                     | 2015                               | 2016                               |                               2017 | 2018^                              |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh      | 1422                               | 723                                |                                236 | 8                                  |
| 2        | Bihar               | -                                  | Nil                                |                                  0 | 2                                  |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh        | -                                  | 1                                  |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 4        | Delhi               | -                                  | -                                  |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 5        | Gujarat             | 17                                 | 7                                  |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 6        | Haryana             | Nil                                | Nil                                |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 7        | Jharkhand           | -                                  | 4                                  |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 8        | Karnataka           | -                                  | Nil                                |                                  2 | 0                                  |
| 9        | Maharashtra         | -                                  | 7                                  |                                  9 | 2                                  |
| 10       | Madhya Pradesh      | -                                  | Nil                                |                                  3 | 1                                  |
| 11       | Odisha              | 60                                 | 36                                 |                                 17 | 7                                  |
| 12       | Punjab              | Nil                                | Nil                                |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 13       | Rajasthan           | -                                  | 10                                 |                                  9 | 1                                  |
| 14       | Tamil Nadu          | Nil                                | Nil                                |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 15       | Telangana           | 541                                | 324                                |                                108 | 0                                  |
| 16       | Uttar Pradesh       | -                                  | Nil                                |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 17       | West Bengal         | -                                  | Nil                                |                                  0 | 1                                  |
| 18       | Kerala              | 0                                  | 1                                  |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| 19       | Chhatisgarh         | -                                  | 1                                  |                                  0 | 0                                  |
| TOTAL    | TOTAL               | 2040                               | 1114                               |                                384 | 22^                                |

Source: Casualty  data  confirmed  by  Revenue  and  DM  Division  of  respective  State Governments  and  IDSP-  NCDC  (Integrated  Diseases  Surveillance  Project  -  National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare up to 15.07.2018 reported as on 17.07.2018

Note: Above figures are not final as some states are still verifying the claims regarding heat wave deaths