2 hrs ago

Heatwave Relief Recognition Raises Questions About Counting Deaths

The government will now allow some disaster-relief money to be used for heatwaves and lightning.

This can help families and communities affected by extreme heat.

Officials count people who have confirmed heatstroke, but heat can also worsen heart, kidney, and other health problems.

Those deaths may not be recorded as heat-related.

Heat can continue harming people for days or months after a heatwave.

Different agencies currently use different methods for counting heat deaths.

A health surveillance system is being developed to make the numbers more consistent.

Experts believe the real number of heat-related deaths is much higher than official counts.

They want planners to use excess deaths, which compare deaths during hot periods with the number normally expected.

Key facts

Newly eligible disasters: Heatwaves and lightning were included among disasters eligible for relief from State and National Disaster Response Funds.
Current-season data: 4,853 heatstroke cases and 20 deaths were reported; nearly 60% of cases came from Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.
2024 surveillance data: The National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance system recorded 48,000 cases and 159 deaths in 2024.
2025 surveillance data: From March to June 2025, it recorded 7,192 cases and 14 deaths.
Work and economic impact: A cited study found outdoor workers in Agra, Ajmer, and Delhi lost an average of 24 workdays in a year; the Reserve Bank of India reported potential risks of up to 34 million job losses by 2030 and 4.5% of GDP.
Heatstroke death definition: A confirmed heatstroke death is a suspected death confirmed by a district-level death investigation or three-person committee.
Estimated excess mortality: The Global Heat Health Information Network estimates that one five-day heatwave could produce approximately 30,000 excess deaths across Indian rural and urban districts.

thehindubusinessline.com · 2 hrs ago