Treat Heatwaves as a Health Emergency

India must adopt an aggressive, integrated approach that embeds climate resilience in public health programmes

- Aparna Roy

We are only halfway into April, but north and central India are already witnessing intense heatwaves. By February-end, Goa and Maharashtra faced heatwaves, making it the hottest month in 125 years. With temperatures rising, heatwaves are no longer one-off disasters; they are now recurring climate emergencies with corresponding immediate and long-term consequences for India's health and economy.

Since 1992, more than 26,000 deaths have been recorded due to extreme heat, a figure that continues to rise each year. In 2024 alone, government data attributed 360 deaths to heatwaves, though actual fatalities could be much higher. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of extreme heat days has surged, with infants and the elderly experiencing a 47% and 58% increase, respectively, in annual exposure compared to the 1990s. Despite its staggering health burden, heatwaves remain insufficiently addressed in India's healthcare planning.

The health consequences of heatwaves are widespread, affecting both urban and rural populations, with the most vulnerable—outdoor workers, the rural poor, pregnant women, and the elderly—bearing the brunt of this crisis. Direct impacts include heatstroke and dehydration, which can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory distress. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat exacerbates vector-borne diseases and is increasingly linked to mental health conditions such as anxiety and hypertension. A 2022 study in Ranchi underscored how rising temperatures worsen mental health disorders, further straining an already overstretched healthcare system. Yet, India's policy response continues to operate in silos, failing to integrate climate risks into its broader health infrastructure.

It is, therefore, urgent for India to adopt an aggressive, integrated approach that embeds climate resilience into public health programmes. Currently, policies treat climate change and health in isolation, leading to fragmented strategies.