Summer woes: Heat wave kills, but only 9 states have an action plan

Only nine of the country’s 29 states and seven union territories have drawn up heat action plans (HAP) to deal with the killer weather.

Temperatures are soaring but India may not be best prepared to face the heat wave that has killed more than 6,000 people in the past four years, officials say.

A man selling air coolers rests at a market on a hot summer day in Ahmedabad.(Reuters File Photo)

Only nine of the country’s 29 states and seven union territories have drawn up heat action plans (HAP) based on guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Do’s

Drink sufficient water - even if not thirsty.

Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes.

Cover your head: Use a cloth, hat or umbrella

Caution workers to avoid direct sunlight.

Stay indoors as much as possible.

Keep your home cool, use curtains, shutters or sunshade and open windows at night. Try to remain on lower floors.

Use fans, damp clothing and take bath in cold water frequently.

If you feel faint or ill, see a doctor immediately.

Keep animals in shade and give them plenty of water to drink.

Don’ts

Avoid going out in the sun, especially between 12 noon and 3 pm.

Avoid strenuous activities when outside in the afternoon

Do not go out barefoot

Avoid cooking during peak hours.

Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks, which dehydrates the body.

Avoid high-protein food and do not eat stale food.

Do not leave children or pets in parked vehicles

The absence of a plan could prove deadly. “These plans play an important role in ensuring better preparedness and timely intervention, thus bringing down the number of deaths and illnesses during the heat wave season,” Dr V Thiruppugazh, joint secretary (policy & plan), NDMA, told HT.

But it is for the states to draw up their own plans, taking into account their demography, traditional knowledge and available resources.

“We have sent a responsibility matrix to states on how to counter heat wave-related problems. But finally it’s up to the states to chart out their own plans and implement them,” Thiruppugazh added.

However, only Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Bihar and Haryana have shown urgency and got their plans in place.

Their plans include establishing an early warning system and inter-agency coordination, training healthcare professionals, public awareness, collaboration with non-government and civil society groups and improving water delivery system among others.

“We developed HAP after looking at the number of people killed by the natural disaster in 2014. The NDMA also took into account the threat of climate change and inputs from IMD,” Thiruppugazh pointed out.

It is not mandatory for states to work upon NDMA’s suggestions, and most have been lukewarm in their response till date, though heat killed 1,111 people in 2016 and more than 2,400 the previous year.

Temperatures this season are hovering over 40 degrees Celsius and below the 45 degree mark, that qualifies it to be officially declared a heat wave. But that is no consolation.

Heatwave Deaths

2010: 1274

2011: 793

2012: 1247

2013: 1216

2014: 1677

2015: 2422

2016: 1111

(Source: NDMA)

“While it is difficult to predict, there could be two or three spells of heat waves in the coming weeks,” said Dr Devendra Pradhan, a scientist with the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Knowing that the coming months could be hotter, the NDMA is updating its HAP that would include mechanisms to identify critical spots in cities and how to contain the impact of heat on animals as well.