SRINAGAR: India has recorded at least 1,634 deaths due to heatwaves and sunstroke in the last three years, with Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar among the worst-affected states, according to official data tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the Government has put in place a multi-layered action plan to tackle the growing threat of extreme heat, which scientists link directly to climate change.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that India lost 530 lives to heatwaves in 2020, 374 lives in 2021, and 730 in 2022. Maharashtra reported the highest number of deaths over this period, with 183 fatalities, followed by Punjab (331), Uttar Pradesh (215), Bihar (188), and Telangana (203). Jharkhand also reported a steep rise, from 23 deaths in 2020 to 47 in 2022.
Union Territories, by contrast, were largely unaffected, with only one fatality reported in Delhi in 2022.
Singh informed the House that India’s framework to manage extreme heat events is anchored in the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plans (SAPCCs). The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued guidelines on heatwave management in 2016, later revised in 2019, which serve as the basis for state and city-level Heat Action Plans (HAPs).
Currently, 23 heatwave-prone states have rolled out HAPs in collaboration with the NDMA. These plans include early-warning systems, community outreach, medical preparedness, and cooling shelters.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), working with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and other national institutions, provides seasonal and monthly outlooks as well as extended-range forecasts. These are disseminated through websites, social media, and dedicated mobile applications.
Among them are the IMD’s MAUSAM app for weather forecasting, Meghdoot for agromet advisories, and Damini for lightning alerts. Seven services, including forecasts and cyclone alerts, have also been integrated into the government’s UMANG platform for public access.
The NDMA has additionally launched a Common Alert Protocol (CAP) to ensure uniform dissemination of extreme weather warnings.
Authorities also conduct pre-summer preparedness meetings with state governments and district administrations, while IMD has developed a heatwave vulnerability atlas and hazard analysis maps that take into account daily temperatures, winds, and humidity.
The Minister said that such measures have helped reduce loss of life in recent years despite the growing frequency of heat events.
Asked about scientific assessments that place India in a so-called “global-warming hole” — regions where surface warming appears slower than global averages — Singh said national scientific institutions are undertaking continuous monitoring of climate trends. He stressed that India is aware of the implications and is factoring them into policy responses.
Experts note that India, home to more than a sixth of humanity, is among the most vulnerable to climate change. Prolonged heatwaves in recent summers have tested infrastructure, strained power and water supply, and exposed millions of outdoor workers to dangerous conditions.
The government said it will continue to strengthen mitigation measures while working with international collaborations such as the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure.
With nearly 1,634 lives lost in just three years, the rising toll underscores the urgent need for adaptation strategies as India braces for hotter and longer summers in the decades ahead.
