SRINAGAR: Heatwaves have been included in the list of notified natural calamities for the 2026–31 award period, enabling relief assistance through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the Union Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The Ministry said Jammu and Kashmir recorded three heatstroke cases and no confirmed heatstroke deaths between March 1 and July 26, 2026. Across the country, 4,853 heatstroke cases and 20 confirmed deaths were reported during the period.
In a written reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2541, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the 16th Finance Commission had recommended the inclusion of heatwaves and lightning in the list of notified natural calamities, citing the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events linked to climate change.
“Based on these recommendations, the Ministry of Home Affairs has included heatwaves and lightning in the list of notified natural calamities under the Operational Guidelines for Administration of the SDRF and NDRF for the award period 2026–31,” the reply stated.
The Ministry said a policy framework for providing relief assistance through the SDRF and NDRF is now in place, while heatwave mitigation projects are also eligible for support under Disaster Mitigation Funds.
The national data showed the highest number of heatstroke cases in Telangana at 915, followed by West Bengal with 733, Chhattisgarh with 660, Andhra Pradesh with 540, Jharkhand with 409 and Maharashtra with 325. Maharashtra reported the highest number of confirmed heatstroke deaths at 11, followed by Andhra Pradesh with four.
The Government said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing heat-health interventions under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health, in accordance with the National Action Plan on Heat Related Illness.
The National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance system has been activated across more than 51,000 reporting units, covering Primary Health Centres and hospitals above that level, to monitor heat-related illnesses and deaths.
The National Disaster Management Authority has also issued national guidelines for effective heatwave management and guidelines for preparing Heat Action Plans, aimed at helping heatwave-prone States and Union Territories strengthen preparedness and response.
