Lok Sabha Question No. 3028 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Heat Wave
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3028

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 19 TH  MARCH, 2025

## HEAT WAVE

## 3028.   SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the data on heat wave-related fatalities since 2020, year-wise and State-wise;
- (b) the details of compensation schemes or support mechanisms available to victims affected by severe heat waves; and
- (c) the details and status of the proactive measures initiated by the Government to address the projected increase in severe heat waves across the country in the coming years?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The latest available details as per the National Crime Record Bureau(NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are given in Annexure-1.
- (b) State Government can use up to 10% of the annual fund allocation of the State Disaster Response  Fund  (SDRF)  subject  to  the  fulfillment  of  certain  prescribed  conditions  and norms, to provide immediate relief to the victims of natural disasters that they consider to be  'disasters'  within  the  local  context  in  the  State  and  which  are  not  included  in  the centrally notified list of natural disasters.
- (c) Due to climate change, annual temperature is increasing globally, and the impact of the same is reflected in the rising frequency and intensity of heatwaves in various parts of the globe,  including  India.  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)-Sixth Assessment Report also reflects the same (https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC\_AR6\_ SYR\_SPM.pdf). Addressing the root causes of global climate change is essential to mitigate the impact of heat waves. This involves international cooperation to reduce carbon emissions, transition to  renewable  energy  sources,  and  implement  sustainable  practices  across  all  sectors. Various initiatives  have  been  undertaken  by  the  Government  of  India  with  the  help  of States to reduce the causes of heatwaves in the coming years. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) is one of the major initiatives in this direction. Additionally, India has taken a proactive role in fostering  international  collaborations  through  initiatives  such  as  the  International  Solar Alliance  and  the  Coalition  for  Disaster-Resilient  Infrastructure.  India  is  committed  to pursuing  low-carbon  strategies  for  development  and  is  actively  pursuing  them,  as  per national circumstances.

The  India  Meteorological  Department,  in  coordination  with  various  research  centers across  the  country,  has  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:

-  Issuing  seasonal  and  monthly  outlooks,  followed  by  extended-range  forecasts  of temperature and heatwave conditions. The early warning and forecast information are also disseminated through various social media for timely public outreach.
-  District-wise  heatwave  vulnerability  Atlas  over  India  to  help  State  Government authorities and disaster management agencies in planning
-  The  hot  weather  hazard  analysis  map  over  India  that  includes  daily  temperature, winds, and humidity condition
-  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.

IMD  has  launched  seven  of  its  services  (Current  Weather,  Nowcast,  City  Forecast, Rainfall  Information,  Tourism  Forecast,  Warnings,  and  Cyclone)  with  the  'UMANG' Mobile App for use by the Public. Moreover, IMD developed a mobile App, 'MAUSAM' for weather forecasting, 'Meghdoot' for Agromet advisory dissemination, and 'Damini' for lightning  alerts.  The  common  Alert  Protocol  (CAP)  developed  by  the  NDMA  is  also being implemented to disseminate warnings by the IMD.

State/UT wise deaths due to Heat/Sun Stroke during 2020-2022:

| SN                | State/UT                   |   2020 |   2021 |   2022 |
|-------------------|----------------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh             |     50 |     22 |     47 |
| 2                 | Arunachal Pradesh          |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 3                 | Assam                      |      0 |      0 |      1 |
| 4                 | Bihar                      |     53 |     57 |     78 |
| 5                 | Chhattisgarh               |      3 |      2 |     11 |
| 6                 | Goa                        |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 7                 | Gujarat                    |     12 |      8 |      5 |
| 8                 | Haryana                    |     23 |     14 |     27 |
| 9                 | Himachal Pradesh           |      0 |      1 |      0 |
| 10                | Jharkhand                  |     23 |     33 |     47 |
| 11                | Karnataka                  |      1 |      0 |      2 |
| 12                | Kerala                     |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 13                | Madhya Pradesh             |      7 |      2 |     27 |
| 14                | Maharashtra                |     56 |     37 |     90 |
| 15                | Manipur                    |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 16                | Meghalaya                  |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 17                | Mizoram                    |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 18                | Nagaland                   |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 19                | Odisha                     |     13 |     15 |     38 |
| 20                | Punjab                     |    110 |     91 |    130 |
| 21                | Rajasthan                  |     23 |      1 |     12 |
| 22                | Sikkim                     |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 23                | Tamil Nadu                 |      0 |      2 |      2 |
| 24                | Telangana                  |     98 |     43 |     62 |
| 25                | Tripura                    |      2 |      0 |      2 |
| 26                | Uttar Pradesh              |     50 |     35 |    130 |
| 27                | Uttarakhand                |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 28                | West Bengal                |      6 |     11 |     18 |
|                   | TOTAL STATE(S)             |    530 |    374 |    729 |
| 29                | A &NIslands                |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 30                | Chandigarh                 |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 31                | D&N Haveli and Daman&Diu@+ |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 32                | Delhi UT                   |      0 |      0 |      1 |
| 33                | Jammu &Kashmir@*           |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 34                | Ladakh@                    |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 35                | Lakshadweep                |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| 36                | Puducherry                 |      0 |      0 |      0 |
|                   | TOTAL UT(S)                |      0 |      0 |      1 |
| TOTAL (ALL INDIA) | TOTAL (ALL INDIA)          |    530 |    374 |    730 |

As per data provided by states/UTs

'+' Combined data of erstwhile D&N Haveli and Daman&Diu UT during 2018 and 2019

'*' Data of erstwhile JAMMU & KASHMIR State Including Ladakh during 2018 and 2019 '@' Data of newly created Union territory

Source:  Accidental  Deaths  &  Suicides  in  India,  National  Crime  Record  Bureau  (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

*****