Kol, 5 Bengal dists at ‘high risk' for extreme heat: Study
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Kolkata: Kolkata is among six Bengal districts flagged as "high-risk" for extreme heat in a nationwide heat risk assessment by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
The report titled 'How Extreme Heat Is Impacting India: Assessing District-level Heat Risk' presents the first composite Heat Risk Index (HRI) for all 734 districts in India. Significantly, the six Bengal districts do not have a heat action plan to help citizens adapt to the problem.
While Bengal is 15th among states on the HRI, indicating a moderate overall risk, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Purulia, East Midnapore and Bankura feature among the 417 districts in India under the high and very high risk category.
Unlike in the past, heat stress is not fading in the city with sunset, says the report. Very warm nights and rising humidity are reducing the body's ability to recover from daytime heat, posing serious health risks, especially for the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and people with chronic illnesses. "Heat stress is no longer a future threat — it's a present reality," said Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW. "We are entering an era of intense, prolonged heat and dangerously warm nights.
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It's time to overhaul our heat action strategies with district-specific solutions," he added.
As many as 12 Bengal districts came under the moderate risk category on the list, while northern districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri have been considered low-risk. Cooch Behar and Alipurduar are the only districts in the very low-risk category.
The study arrives at a time when 57% of India's districts — home to over 76% of the population — are at risk due to extreme heat.
Many cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, are experiencing increased vulnerability due to urban heat islands and dense populations.
To build a momentum for nationwide heat resilience, CEEW launched the report and deliberated on practical strategies for heat action planning, disaster risk reduction, and financing for sustainable cooling. "The urban heat island and shrinking green space have been exacerbating the problem," said Vishwas Chitale, who leads the climate resilience team at CEEW.
The report underscores the importance of moving beyond daytime heat metrics. It calls for an urgent update of heat action plans to include measures for night-time heat and rising humidity, especially as the State Disaster Mitigation Fund now recognises heatwaves as a disaster eligible for relief funding. CEEW is also showcasing affordable and scalable heat adaptation strategies such as cool roofs, net-zero cooling shelters, emergency heat stroke rooms and parametric heat insurance.
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