As the temperature rises and India is preparing for summer, the central government has directed the states to review their preparations for the upcoming heatwave.
According to the report, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava has asked the chief secretaries of all states and advisors of all union territories to “manage the health effects of extreme heat”.
The Health Secretary said, “With the onset of summer, some parts of the country have already begun to experience high temperatures. Summer exposure may increase, including extreme conditions.”
According to the official letter, health departments of all states and union territories have been asked to “ensure the sensitivity and capacity building of personnel and to ensure compliance with the Fire No Objection Certificate for health facilities.
The official letter further states, “Health facilities need to increase your tensions towards heat by ensuring uninterrupted power for continuous operation of cooling equipment and reducing indoor heat through cold/green roofs.”
IMD predicted ‘double heatwave’
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), double heatwave is going to be experienced in northwest India. Talking to the news agency ANI, IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy said that the region may have a double number of heatwaves compared to normal days. North-West India, which usually faces five to six heatwave days, can see 10 to 12 days.
Roy told ANI, “We are expecting a slightly more heatwave situation, especially in west and central India. Generally, about 5 to 6 heatwave days are seen in North-West India. This year, we are expecting 10 to 12 days, which is double the normal.” In 2024, a total of 544 heatwave days were recorded in India, making it the hottest year in the history of the country.
