Half of Indian districts seen at high heat risk

The analysis claims that over the last 40 years (1981-2022), heat extremes in India have increased linearly

- Jayashree Nandi

NEW DELHI: Over half of Indian districts (57%), home to 76% of the population and contributing to a combined GDP of Rs 280 lakh crore (almost 85% of India's GDP at current prices) are currently at high to very high heat risk, an analysis by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water has revealed.

Around 417 out of 734 districts fall under high and very high heat risk (151 are high risk, 266 are very high risk), while 201 are at moderate risk and 116 are low to very low risk, the analysis found. The ten states/UTs with the highest heat risk are: Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.