Lok Sabha Question No. 2661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Deaths in Punjab due to Heatwaves
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2661

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 7 TH AUGUST, 2024

## DEATHS IN PUNJAB DUE TO HEATWAVES

## 2661.   SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any data regarding the deaths in Punjab, due to heatwave in last two years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any specific data and details of the reasons causing extreme heatwave in Jalandhar and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  provided  any  compensation  to  the  families  of  those deceased persons who died because of the heatwave and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes. The latest details are given in Annexure-1 as per the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- (b) Due to climate change, annual temperature is increasing globally, and the impact of the same is reflected in the rising frequency and intensity of heat waves in various parts of the  globe,  including  India.  In  general,  there  is  an  increasing  trend  in  the  frequency  of heatwaves in the heat core zone covering northern plains, including the State of Punjab and central India. The rising frequency and intensity of heat waves are clear indicators of the broader issue of global climate change.

India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD),  in  coordination  with  various  research  centers across  the  country,  has  been  taken  multiple  steps  to  improve  monitoring  and  early warning  systems,  which  helped  minimize  loss  of  life  and  property  during  extreme weather events, including heat waves. These include:

- i. Issuing seasonal and monthly outlooks, followed by extended-range forecasts of temperature and heat wave conditions. The early warning and forecast information are also disseminated through various social media for timely public outreach.
- ii. District-wise  heatwave  vulnerability  Atlas  over  India  to  help  State  Government authorities and disaster management agencies in planning
- iii. The hot weather hazard analysis map over India that includes daily temperature, winds, and humidity condition
- iv. Heat  Action  Plans  (HAPs)  in  23  States  that  are  prone  to  heatwave  conditions jointly implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the State Governments

A series of National and State-level heatwave preparedness meetings are conducted much before the start of the summer season, with regular review meetings from time to time during the season.

- (c) The  State  disaster  management  authorities  have  their  resources  available  through  the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) for support.  If  there  is  a  request  from  the  States  for  financial  assistance,  the  Central Government considers it in accordance with the relevant guidelines for National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).

Deaths due to Heat/Sun Stroke during 2013-2022:

|   Year |   Punjab |
|--------|----------|
|   2013 |      144 |
|   2014 |      123 |
|   2015 |       99 |
|   2016 |      145 |
|   2017 |       60 |
|   2018 |       38 |
|   2019 |       90 |
|   2020 |      110 |
|   2021 |       91 |
|   2022 |      130 |

Source: National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ********

Annexure-1