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News18
3 days ago
- Health
- News18
India Proactive On Extreme Heat Risk Management: PM's Principal Secretary
Last Updated: Mishra emphasised that India's approach to heatwave management is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, involving multiple ministries and stakeholders. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr PK Mishra, has emphasised the urgent need to address extreme heat as a global crisis, echoing the call from the UN Secretary-General. While addressing a Special Session on Extreme Heat Risk Governance at Geneva on Friday, he underlined that rising temperatures posing a systemic risk to public health, economic stability, and ecological resilience, and India welcomes the UNDRR's initiative to advance the Common Framework for Extreme Heat Risk Governance as a platform for shared learning, guidance, and collaboration. Mishra emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken a proactive and forward-thinking approach to extreme heat risk management. He pointed out that India has moved beyond disaster response toward integrated preparedness and mitigation strategies. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) developed national guidelines on heatwave management in 2016, revised in 2019, facilitating decentralised Heat Action Plans (HAPs). He acknowledged that the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan showcased the effectiveness of early warnings, inter-agency coordination, and community outreach in saving lives. 'Over 250 cities and districts across 23 heat-prone states have operational Heat Action Plans, supported by NDMA's advisory, technical, and institutional mechanisms", stressed the Principal Secretary, underscoring that strengthened surveillance, hospital readiness, and awareness campaigns have significantly reduced heatwave-related mortality. Mishra emphasised that India's approach to heatwave management is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, involving multiple ministries and stakeholders. He highlighted the crucial role of public health institutes, research groups, civil society organisations, and universities in supporting local governments to enhance heat action plans. 'Extreme heat deeply impacts communities, and India has actively incorporated traditional wisdom and local experiences into its response", stressed Dr Mishra. He noted that schools have become catalysts for behavioural change, educating children about climate resilience. He also emphasised that hospitals and primary health centres must be strengthened to ensure swift and effective emergency responses. Outlining India's transition from a preparedness-only approach to long-term heatwave mitigation, including cool roof technologies, passive cooling centres, urban greening, and the revival of traditional water bodies, Mishra affirmed that India is integrating Urban Heat Island (UHI) assessments into city planning. Mishra announced a significant policy change, allowing National and State Disaster Mitigation Funds to be utilised for heatwave mitigation. This enables local governments, private sector entities, NGOs, and individuals to co-finance projects, promoting shared responsibility for prevention and mitigation efforts. He acknowledged key challenges that remain and called for a global focus on developing a localized heat-humidity index based on real-time data to enhance early warning systems, advancing building technologies and passive cooling innovations that are affordable and culturally appropriate and addressing equity concerns, as extreme heat disproportionately affects women, outdoor workers, the elderly, and children. 'Heatwaves are transboundary and systemic risks, particularly for densely populated urban areas", stressed Dr Mishra, urging the international community to enhance technological collaboration, data sharing, and joint research on heat resilience. He called for the Common Framework to provide accessible knowledge, research, and practical solutions, alongside institutional and financial support mechanisms. Mishra reaffirmed India's commitment to sharing its expertise, technical capabilities, and institutional strengths with global partners to foster a resilient, coordinated, and proactive global response to extreme heat. First Published: June 07, 2025, 15:13 IST
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Indoor heat stress in rural Maharashtra is underreported, says latest study
A new study in the Vidarbha region has flagged concern over the underreported extreme indoor heat stress in the rural areas of Maharashtra, as the country continues to grapple with record-breaking heatwaves. The study was conducted in the Wardha district, which is designated as a heat-priority district under Maharashtra's Heat Action Plan framework. It stated tin roofs, used in 45 per cent of surveyed homes, were associated with the highest indoor heat levels and that only 2.1 per cent of houses used straw roofs, which are considered more heat-resilient. Conducted across five villages, the study monitored indoor temperatures during the summer months in 2022 and surveyed over 2,600 residents across 700 homes to assess heat-related symptoms and coping mechanisms. The results of the study, supported by Watershed Organisation Trust's (WOTR) Centre for Resilience Studies in Pune, were published in the Journal of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. The findings include that indoor temperatures in tin-roof houses peaked at 37–38°C in June, consistently higher than in houses with tile or cement slab roofs. Over 82 per cent of respondents self-reported at least one heat-related symptom (HRS), including fatigue (22 per cent), heavy sweating (20 per cent), and intense thirst (16 per cent). Severe symptoms like fainting, hallucinations, and paranoid feelings were also reported. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that heat exposure will cause 38,000 and more than one lakh additional deaths per year during the 2030s and 2050s respectively and hence extreme temperatures or heat waves are considered a `silent killer'. According to Premsagar Tasgaonkar, research associate at Social Science and Climate Change Adaptation at WOTR, the findings point to alarmingly high indoor temperatures in tin-roofed houses, resulting in significant health symptoms among residents and a lack of targeted rural interventions in existing Heat Action Plans (HAPs). 'There is an urgent need to enhance and expand existing platforms for disseminating extreme temperature alerts and public health advisories. Integrating indigenous knowledge and practices in heat action plans along with the expertise of health professionals can contribute to mitigating adverse health and livelihood impacts of heat stress in rural areas,' Tasgaonkar told The Indian Express. Meanwhile, the need for necessary changes in disaster planning and recovery services has also found an echo in a new Lancet study that draws on data from 2009-2019. It looked at more than 1,500 people exposed to at least one disaster, such as floods, fires, or cyclones, and their mental health outcomes were compared to 3,880 Australians with similar sociodemographic profiles who did not experience disasters during the same period. Similarly, the Wardha study has added to the body of literature documenting the lived experience of rural communities facing climate extremes, providing data that can inform both local adaptation and national-level planning.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Los Angeles launches online relief tool to assist wildfire victims
(KTLA) – The city of Los Angeles has launched a new website aimed at helping victims of the deadly wildfires. According to a news release, the website LA Disaster Relief Navigator will ask visitors personalized questions 'to create individual Disaster Action Plans including government programs, insurance assistance, home damage remediation, temporary and permanent housing solutions, cash grants and valuable local community services.' California utility company says its equipment likely sparked Hurst Fire 'Angelenos are continuing to navigate grief and shock. My commitment is to do everything we can to get people the help they need as conveniently as possible,' Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. In January, the state also unveiled its revamped fire relief website, making accessing available resources easier for Los Angeles County wildfire victims. The website has information on how victims can apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief, replace personal documents, find food banks, and safely return to their homes. It also helps with accessing shelter and expense reimbursements. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
