Lok Sabha Question No. 1028 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Scientific Study on Heat Wave
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1028 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 8 TH FEBRUARY, 2023

## SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON HEAT WAVE

1028. SHRIVINOD KUMAR SONKAR: SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA): SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted or proposes to conduct a detailed scientific study on the heat wave phenomenon in various parts of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken the cognizance of World Bank report 'Climate Investment Opportunities in India's Cooling Sector' and if so, the Government's reaction thereto;
- (d) whether average frequency of severe heat waves has doubled in the country during the last few years;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f) the remedial measures taken/proposed to be taken to address the issue of heat waves in the country during the coming summer season;
- (g) whether the Government has also assessed the impact of intense heat waves on human beings, flora and fauna of the country as well as its effect on the job sector; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(DR. JlTENDRA SINGH)

- (a)-(b) Yes Sir. Heat Wave hazard analysis for entire country for four hot weather months (MARCH, APRIL, MAY & JUNE) considering the Maximum Temperature, Minimum Temperature, Humidity, Wind and Duration is completed. This will lead to identification of hazard scores based on different meteorological parameters aggravating impact of Heat Waves.

The link for Heat Wave information web-page is https:llintemal.imd.gov.in/pages/heatwave mausam.php

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Recently IMD brought out web based online "Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas of India" prepared for the thirteen most hazardous meteorological events, which cause extensive damages, economic, human, and animal losses. The same can be accessed at https://imdpune.gov.inihazardatlas/abouthazard.html.The climate Hazard and vulnerability atlas will help state government authorities and Disaster Management Agencies for planning and taking appropriate action to tackle various extreme weather events. This atlas serves as a reference to IMD to issue impact based forecast for various extreme weather events, including heatwaves.

As per the recent book on "Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region" published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, the rise in temperature is largely due to increase in GHG, aerosols and changes in land use and land cover. Due to this the all India averaged annual frequency of warm days and nights have increased, and cold days and nights have decreased since 1951. Report is available in the link(http://cccr. tropmet.res.inihome/ docs/ cccr/2020 Book AssessmentOfClimateChangeOv erT.pdf).

- (c) World Bank report 'Climate Investment Opportunities in India's Cooling Sector' is a multi­ stakeholder effort in which various ministries under Government of India like Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) are involved. Anticipating the complex cooling energy trends and challenges, the Government of India launched the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) in 2019 to provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all. ICAP recognizes that the cooling requirement is cross-sectoral and essential for economic growth.
- (d)-( e) The details of state-wise average number of Severe Heatwavelheatwave days in the country during 2018-2022 is given Annexure-I. The number of heat waves is more in 2022 during April to June season as compared to the years 2020 and 2021.
- (t) Heat wave is one of the severe weather phenomena for which India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues early warning. In the country, appreciable rise in maximum temperatures as well as heat waves are found to be more in the months of April, May & June. As an initiative IMD is issuing Seasonal Outlook for temperatures for the months of April, May & June in the last week of March for planning purpose. This outlook brings out the expected scenario of heat waves also during the period.

The seasonal outlook is followed by Extended Range Outlook issued on every Thursday for next two weeks. In addition to this, the forecast and the colour coded warnings for severe weather including heat wave warning are issued on daily basis for next five days with outlook for another two days.

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IMD issues an additional bulletin on heat wave in the morning (8 a.m.) valid for 24 hours for supporting the planning of activities for the day and this bulletin is also!disseminated to all concerned. All these bulletins are posted to IMD website also, on a special page created for Heatwaves.

As an adaptive measure, IMD in collaboration with local health departments have started heat action plan in many parts of the country to forewarn about the heat waves and also advising action to be taken during such occasions. Heat action plan became operational since 2013.

The Heat Action Plan is a comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat events. The Plan presents immediate as well as longer-term actions to increase preparedness, information-sharing, and response coordination to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and IMD are working with 23 states prone to high temperatures leading to heat-wave conditions to develop heat action plans.

Recent advancement made in Heat wave forecast and warning follow:-

- ~ Heat Wave Monitoring and Forecasting Information on GIS
- ~ Issue special heat wave & its impact bulletin (March to June) at 1600 hrs 1ST by including impact of Minimum Temperature, humidity and wind.
- (g)-(h) 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.

Four Common heat health impacts resulting from excessive exposure to heat waves include dehydration, cramps, exhaustion and heatstroke. It is also learnt that there is a sharp rise in number of cases of acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning due to spoilage of food and reduction of its shelf life due to high temperatures. There is also rise in number of cases of anxiety, palpitations, nervousness and behavioural change linked to extreme temperature rise. The occupational profile of most of the victims was ascertained as agricultural labourers, coastal community dwellers, and people living below poverty level (BPL) category with mostly outdoor occupations.

Issuance of early warnings/forecasts and advisories in collaboration with NDMA, as described above, are the remedial/mitigation measures being carried out by the ministry.

## Annexure-I

| Average No of Heat wave Days   | Average No of Heat wave Days         |   Average No of Heat wave Days |   Average No of Heat wave Days |   Average No of Heat wave Days |   Average No of Heat wave Days |   Average No of Heat wave Days |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| State                          | Number of stations used for analysis |                           2018 |                           2019 |                           2020 |                           2021 |                           2022 |
| Himachal Pradesh               | 1                                    |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |
| Punjab                         | 2                                    |                              4 |                              8 |                              1 |                              2 |                             24 |
| Haryana                        | 2                                    |                              9 |                              8 |                              3 |                              2 |                             24 |
| Delhi                          | 1                                    |                              6 |                              8 |                              4 |                              3 |                             17 |
| Uttarakhand                    | 1                                    |                              5 |                             13 |                              0 |                              7 |                             28 |
| Rajasthan                      | 10                                   |                             17 |                             20 |                              6 |                              4 |                             26 |
| Uttar Pradesh                  | 8                                    |                              6 |                             13 |                              2 |                              1 |                             15 |
| Sikkim                         | 1                                    |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |
| Assam                          | 2                                    |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |                              0 |
| Madhya Pradesh                 | 8                                    |                              7 |                             13 |                              2 |                              1 |                             13 |
| West Bengal                    | 3                                    |                              2 |                              3 |                              0 |                              3 |                              2 |
| Bihar                          | 3                                    |                              6 |                             12 |                              1 |                              1 |                              6 |
| Gujarat                        | 7                                    |                              3 |                              4 |                              2 |                              0 |                              5 |
| Jharkhand                      | 3                                    |                              3 |                             10 |                              1 |                              0 |                             18 |
| Maharashtra                    | 11                                   |                              8 |                             15 |                              5 |                              0 |                              4 |
| Odisha                         | 5                                    |                              4 |                              8 |                              2 |                              4 |                              5 |
| Chhattisgarh                   | 2                                    |                              0 |                              3 |                              0 |                              1 |                              6 |
| Telangana                      | 2                                    |                              0 |                             10 |                              2 |                              0 |                              2 |
| Andhra Pradesh                 | 8                                    |                              8 |                             13 |                              3 |                              4 |                              5 |
| Karnataka                      | 6                                    |                              0 |                              2 |                              4 |                              0 |                              0 |
| Tamil Nadu                     | 5                                    |                              2 |                             11 |                              4 |                              3 |                              3 |

******

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