Lok Sabha Question No. 4375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Impact of Heat Stress
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Smt. D K Aruna

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4375 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 20 TH AUGUST, 2025

## IMPACT OF HEAT STRESS

## 4375.   SMT. D K ARUNA:

SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether heat-related data indicate that the impact of heat stress is worst on the poor, the marginalised, migrants, subsistence workers, women and the elderly and women are additionally impacted due to social norms such as working in the kitchen, the need to wear clothing due to cultural requirements and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any research have been done in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with its reports and present status thereof; and
- (c) whether in the middle of the 19th century, researchers and scientists  made observations that urban areas have a higher temperature than rural areas arriving at the inference that much of the rise in temperature is human-made and yet it took another 150 years for the first Heat and Health Action Plans (HHAP) to be prepared in the European countries and the first such efforts were from the non-tropical regions and in the last decade more than 23 Indian States and around 140 cities across India have State and city-level HHAPs and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)-(b)  In  India,  there  are  no  heat-related  data  or  research  studies  to  indicate  the  extent  of impact  of  heat  stress  on  the  categories  of  people  mentioned  here.  However,  some studies  conducted  in  other  parts  of  the  world  have  shown  that  the  poor,  the marginalised, migrants, subsistence workers, women, and the elderly are more prone to the impact of heat stress.

The  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  has  published  the  Climate  Hazard  & Vulnerability  Atlas  of  India,  prepared  for  heatwaves across  the  country, and this is based on casualties associated with the severe heatwaves. It is mainly for the users of the  disaster  management  sectors  to  identify  the  vulnerable  districts  affected  by  the heatwave  for  taking  preventive  and  adaptive  measures.  This  vulnerability  maps, vulnerability assessment are at the district level. https://imdpune.gov.in/hazardatlas/abouthazard.html.

- (c) Yes.  It  was  known  to  researchers  during  older  days  that  urban  areas  have  a  higher temperature  than  rural  areas.  Heat  Action  Plan  (HAP)  became  operational  on  an experimental basis in Ahmedabad during the summer of 2013, and till today, it has been  operational  in  23  States  by  the  National  Disaster  Management  Authority (NDMA) in coordination with various State  and  Central  Agencies,  including  IMD, prone  to  high  temperatures  leading  to  heatwave  conditions,  and  developing  heat action  plans.  HAPs  are  designed  by  the  local  level  agencies,  considering  the administrative and management requirements at the ground level. IMD plays a crucial role by providing meteorological information and warning services. Subsequently, the actions  are  taken  by  different  stakeholders  at  the  local  government  bodies  and associated  NGOs.  IMD  provides  all  support  as  and  when  required  in  the  level development of HAPs  for meteorological information, monitoring day-to-day conditions, forecasts at seasonal to monthly  scales, early warning  for timely preparedness and implementation of mitigation measures well in advance.

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