250 died this summer due to heat wave

Agra: Data presented by the Union minister of state for health and family welfare, SP Singh Baghel, has revealed a significant increase in heat-related fatalities during the summer months of April, May and June in 2023. According to the data, an average of two people lost their lives each day due to heat waves in the country during this period.

A total of 252 deaths were reported in the first half of 2023 (till June 30), up from only 33 fatalities in the same period last year. In 2021, states and UTs either did not record or reported zero death due to heat waves. The data further revealed that heat waves resulted in 2,040 deaths in 2015.

States advised to prepare health sector plans for heat-related illness

Responding to a question raised by Lok Sabha MP Ramalingam S, the minister disclosed that Kerala witnessed the highest number of heat wave-related deaths, with 120 reported cases. Gujarat followed with 35 fatalities, while Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and UP reported 20, 14, 12, and 12 deaths, respectively.

"To ensure adequate preparedness at state/UT level, the Union health ministry has released guidelines on strengthening health system preparedness for heat-related illnesses (HRI) including control and management in April 2023," the minister said.

He further said, "States are advised to prepare their state-level heat health sector plan with a focus on awareness building, health system capacity upgradation and strengthening of health infrastructure to treat heat-related illness and reduce related deaths. Till date, 28 states have completed their heat-health action plans."

Titled 'Countdown on health and climate change', a study published by medical journal The Lancet in 2022 stated that deaths caused due to heat waves in India increased by 55 per cent between 2000-2004 and 2017-2021.

According to The Lancet report, exposure to heat also caused a loss of 167.2 billion potential labour hours among Indians in 2021.

The study noted that this resulted in income losses equivalent to about 5.4 per cent of the national gross domestic product. Highlighting that climate change is amplifying the health impacts of multiple crises in India, the report said that the growth season for maize has decreased by 2 per cent, while rice and winter wheat have each decreased by 1 per cent, compared to the 1981-2010 baseline.

IMA central working committee member Dr Sharad Gupta, meanwhile, said, "Dehydration is one of the main causes of death from heat waves...The situation can result in a heart attack. Dehydration can also affect people's cognitive ability, preventing the brain from sending signals to the rest of the body."

He added, "Normal body temperature is about 37 degrees C. Anything above 40 degrees C may result in heatstroke. Heat stress is now a public health crisis in India, but sadly it is not being dealt with as one."