Telangana Declares Heatwave As State-Specific Disaster

Current Affairs National

Posted by newadmin on 2025-04-17 08:44:42 |

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In a significant step toward building climate resilience, the Telangana government has officially declared heatwaves and sunstroke as state-specific disasters. This move allows the state to extend financial relief to families impacted by heat-related incidents and places Telangana among the few Indian states to independently recognize heatwaves as disasters, despite the Union government not including them in the national disaster list. By doing so, Telangana aims to better safeguard vulnerable populations from the escalating risks associated with extreme heat.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a heatwave occurs when maximum temperatures reach at least 40°C or exceed the normal temperature by 5 to 6°C. A severe heatwave is defined when this deviation reaches 7°C or more. Areas recording temperatures above 45°C are also considered to be experiencing a heatwave. With climate change driving a rise in both frequency and intensity of heatwaves, the threat has become increasingly serious, particularly in regions like Telangana.

Heatwaves have a profound yet often overlooked impact on public health and the economy. They are particularly dangerous for the elderly, children, women, and those who work outdoors. Unlike more visible disasters such as floods or cyclones, the effects of heatwaves are less apparent, often resulting in underreported deaths and illnesses. Telangana has witnessed significant fatalities in recent years due to heatwaves, recording 98 deaths in 2020 and 62 in 2022. A major challenge in addressing this issue is the absence of clear medical standards for identifying and reporting heat-related deaths, which contributes to systematic undercounting.

To address these risks, the Telangana government has introduced district-level heatwave action plans, which include public health measures like setting up drinking water kiosks and oral rehydration solution (ORS) stations at high-risk locations. Public awareness campaigns are also underway, with advisories issued to help citizens cope during periods of extreme heat. However, the lack of formal disaster status in the past had limited the state’s ability to offer sufficient financial aid to affected families.

The recent declaration changes this. Now, the state is authorized to provide an ex-gratia relief of ₹4 lakh to families of individuals who succumb to heatwaves—an increase from the previous assistance amount of ₹50,000 provided under the Apadbandhu Scheme. This enhanced relief will be disbursed through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), strengthening the state’s capacity to respond effectively to such incidents.

Despite these proactive steps, Telangana’s efforts highlight a larger issue: the Union government does not currently classify heatwaves as disasters under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. As a result, states are unable to access the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for heatwave-related relief, forcing them to rely solely on their own limited resources. Although the Finance Commission permits the use of SDRF funds for localized disasters, the policy remains discretionary and lacks uniformity across the country.

As climate patterns shift and the frequency of heatwaves rises—something the IMD has already predicted for 2025—there is growing pressure on the central government to recognize heatwaves as official disasters. Telangana’s initiative serves as a call for urgent national action, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive disaster management framework that acknowledges the deadly impact of extreme heat and supports both prevention and relief efforts more effectively.

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