Government Mobilizes Team to Combat Rising Heatwave Hospitalizations in Affected States

In response to the alarming rise in heatwave-related hospitalizations across several states, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya led a high-level meeting to assess the country’s preparedness.

Mandaviya announced the deployment of a five-member team comprising senior officials from the Health Ministry and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to visit the states most severely affected by the scorching heatwave. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also been instructed to propose measures to mitigate the adverse impact of the heatwave.

Mandaviya emphasized the need for comprehensive arrangements at all levels to safeguard lives and prevent heatstroke fatalities. A virtual meeting with the health ministers of the affected states will also be conducted to address the soaring temperatures and its health implications.

The Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in various regions, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, among others.

A heatwave is characterized by unusually high temperatures exceeding the normal maximum temperature during the summer season, as defined by the National Disaster Management Authority. Typically occurring between March and June, heatwaves can occasionally extend into July.