20 Die Of Heatstroke Since March In India, Telangana Logs Most Cases: Centre
The Indian government reported 20 heatstroke deaths and nearly 5,000 cases since March, with Maharashtra and Telangana recording the highest figures. In response, heatwaves have been officially classified as natural calamities to allow for better disaster relief funding and mitigation efforts.
Why it matters
The formal recognition of heatwaves as natural disasters marks a significant policy shift in how India manages climate-related health crises and allocates emergency funds.
Twenty people have died due to heatstroke while 4,853 cases have been reported across the country since March 1 this year, with Maharashtra recording the highest number of fatalities and Telangana reporting the most cases, according to government data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated that acting on the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, the Ministry of Home Affairs has included heatwaves and lightning in the list of notified natural calamities under the operational guidelines for the administration of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the 2026-31 award period.He said a policy framework for providing relief assistance through the SDRF and NDRF is now in place, and heatwave mitigation projects are also eligible under the disaster mitigation funds.The minister added that the Ministry of Health and…
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