Heat Intensification in India

India is experiencing intensifying heat that begins earlier, lasts longer, and impacts more deeply than before. The increasing frequency and duration of heat waves are reshaping daily life and work across the country.

Understanding Heat Waves

• Definition: A heat wave is declared by the India Meteorological Department when temperatures reach at least 40°C in the plains or 30°C in the hills, with an increase of 4.5°C or more above normal for at least two consecutive days. 
• Statistics: Between June 2010 and the summer of 2024, the number of cumulative heat wave days increased from approximately 177 to 536, a rise of over 200%. 
• Regional Impact: States like Odisha and Rajasthan experience prolonged heat wave episodes, extending over months. 

Impact on Health and Mortality

• Official Data vs. Reality: Discrepancies in data collection methods lead to underrepresentation of heat-related deaths. Between 2000 and 2020, India recorded 20,615 heatstroke deaths, but many fatalities occur outside hospitals. 
• Excess Mortality Analysis: This method estimates higher heat-related deaths, with the Global Burden of Disease study estimating approximately 155,937 deaths in India in 2021. 
• Challenges: There's a lack of standardized, mandatory heat-related death reporting and real-time surveillance. 

Economic Consequences

• Agriculture: The 2022 heatwave reduced wheat yields by 4.5%, with some districts seeing losses up to 15%. 
• Power Crisis: The heatwave caused electricity demand to surge to an all-time high of 207 GW, straining the grid. 
• Labour Productivity: Outdoor work, like construction and agriculture, faced significant productivity losses, risking 2.5% to 4.5% of India's annual GDP by 2030. 

Traditional Resilience Strategies

India’s cultural heritage offered practical responses to heat, such as mud homes, solar-based work routines, and climate-sensitive architecture.

• Examples: Navtapa, a period of intense heat, aligns with modern data and led communities to adopt adaptive practices like consuming hydrating drinks and resting during peak heat. 
• Decline in Use: Modern development overlooked these practices, favoring rapid urbanization and construction that ignored climate sensitivity. 

Current Adaptation and Mitigation Efforts

• Urban Responses: Cities like Ahmedabad have implemented heat action plans with significant success, such as reducing heat-related mortality by an estimated 1,190 deaths annually. 
• Challenges: Many heat action plans remain advisory, lacking mandates or budgets, and are not well integrated into rural areas. 
• Communication Barriers: Heat alerts primarily in Hindi or English exclude non-literate and rural populations, highlighting the need for inclusive communication. 

Way Forward

• Policy Recommendations: Integrate climate sensitivity into national programs like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and MGNREGA. Encourage reflective rooftops, natural ventilation, and urban greening. 
• Institutional Coordination: Clear roles for entities like the India Meteorological Department and National Disaster Management Authorities can shift focus from emergency response to proactive management. 

India has the opportunity to blend traditional wisdom with modern science, supported by strong policy and political will, to address the challenges posed by extreme heat.