New Delhi: Over 10,000 deaths were reported across India between 2013 and 2022 due to heatwaves, according to data provided by the government in response to a question in the Lok Sabha Wednesday.
In a written response to a parliamentary question, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of Earth Sciences, shared data provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The data showed a total of 10,617 deaths, with Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Bihar being the most affected states, reporting 2,203, 1,485, 1,172, 1,030, and 938 deaths, respectively.
The data on the Union territories showed 18 heatwave-related fatalities restricted to Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir in the specified period.
Between 2014 and 2024, with 219 days of hot spells, Uttar Pradesh observed twice as many heatwave days as Andhra Pradesh, but the southern state recorded the highest number of casualties from heatwaves.
With temperatures crossing the 50 degrees Celsius mark, this unprecedented heat has broken the 80-year record for temperatures. Several regions in North and Central India witnessed long spells of intense heat waves this year.
The national elections this year coincided with the sweltering heatwaves, claiming several lives in Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh including a few election officials.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi also questioned the ministry about the compensation to the families of government servants who died on duty due to the heatwaves during the elections.
To this, the minister responded that the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) have resources to offer for disaster management-related issues of the state. For further financial assistance, states may avail the central government funds for disaster management, in accordance with the relevant guidelines.
Responding to a previous question asked by YSRCP’s P.V. Midhun Reddy in the budget session on 24 July regarding the preparedness of the government for heat vulnerability and hotspot mapping, the minister said, “India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues forecasts and warnings related to severe weather events, including heatwaves, in different spatial and temporal scales and shares the same with public and disaster management authorities to initiate required mitigation measures using the advanced geospatial technologies.”
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