Study reveals India unprepared for growing heatwave threat; warns of rising deaths

It surveys nine major metro⁣⁣ cities and identifies short-term⁣⁣ and long-term emergency⁣⁣ measures to mitigate rising⁣⁣ heatwaves. These cities – Bengaluru, Delhi, Faridabad,⁣⁣ Gwalior, Kota, Ludhiana,⁣⁣ Meerut,Mumbai and Surat – together make up over 11 percent⁣⁣ of India’s urban population, according to Census 2011, and are⁣⁣ some of India’s most at-risk cities for future heat. The report⁣⁣ finds that the surveyed cities⁣⁣ focus on immediate responses⁣⁣ to heat waves, while long-term⁣⁣ actions remain rare. Even⁣⁣ where they do exist, they are⁣⁣ poorly targetted.⁣⁣The report recommends⁣⁣ urgent institutional changes to⁣⁣ measures, including assessing⁣⁣ vulnerability and identifying⁣⁣ urban heat islands, building⁣⁣ the capacity of health staff⁣⁣ and implementers of the⁣⁣ heat action plan, and investing⁣⁣ in technology to provide⁣⁣ energy-efficient cooling⁣⁣ devices.⁣⁣However, the report also underlined barriers to implementing the heat wave mitigation action plan. It states that⁣⁣ ‘coordination problems among⁣⁣ institutions’ emerged as the⁣⁣ top barrier, followed by competing priorities limiting the⁣⁣ focus on heat. Around 14% of⁣⁣ surveyed people said they do⁣⁣ not see heat as a problem.⁣⁣The study used different climate models to identify the⁣⁣ nine cities with a recent rise⁣⁣ in dangerous heat index values and a population above⁣⁣ one million. For analysis, interviews were conducted with⁣⁣ city, district, and state government officials responsible for⁣⁣ implementing heat actions in⁣⁣ these cities.



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