Moving towards irreversible damage

RESEARCH BY THE CLIMATE IMPACT LAB, USA PREDICTS THAT ODISHA COULD BECOME THE HOTTEST INDIAN STATE BY 2100

- Sanjib Kumar Karmee

Extreme heatwaves are a public health concern.

According to the WHO, more than 166,000 people died due to heatwaves in India between 1998 and 2017. This number includes deaths directly attributed to heatstroke and heat exhaustion; as well as, other heat-related illnesses. In 2024, India reported more than 40,000 heatstroke cases and more than 100 heat-related deaths. According to a recent study conducted by CEEW (Council on Energy Environment and Water), 3/4th of India's population is currently at high to very high heat risk. In April of 2025, industrial town Jharsuguda, Odisha, experienced a record-breaking heatwave, reaching a temperature of 46.2°C. This temperature not only surpassed the previous highest April temperature recorded in Jharsuguda; but also made it the hottest place in India. This occurred amidst a severe heatwave, which affected at least 15 other districts of Odisha, with temperatures exceeding 40°C. Similarly, on 16 March, Boudh recorded the highest temperature (43.6°C) in the country; whereas, other places like Jharsuguda, Angul and Bolangir also experienced extremely high temperatures. As per IMD, in March this year four of the top-five hottest places in the country were from Odisha.