India failing to protect the vulnerable as heat deaths climb to new heights

NEW DELHI: In India’s natural death trap, the sun is the second-biggest killer after water and its victims have increased by over 60% in the last decade as thousands die because of ineffective heat management plans by the government.

Data maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau shows a searing heat wave sweeping the country has clocked the highest toll in 15 years, killing over 1,900 people in the last two weeks.

In fact, the number of victims was more than double than that in 2003 and a long-term analysis revealed the lives claimed by India’s sizzling summers have been steadily rising. Between 2005 and 2015, the highest number A searing heat wave sweeping the country has clocked the highest toll in 15 years, killing over 1,900 people in the last two weeks

Between 2005 and 2015, the highest number of deaths was reported in 2012 when the toll was the maximum among all natural disasters

of deaths was reported in 2012 when the toll was the maximum among all natural disasters.

The blazing heat was way behind floods in its killing ability till about ten years back but has since caught up, a fact experts blame on climate change. The NDMA had requested states to map heat waveprone areas and create adequate infrastructure, including health facilities, to cope with the blistering sun

But a government official said the plan more or less remained on paper with states reluctant to enforce them without sufficient financial assistance.

Temperatures have risen by an average of

0.8°C in the last century but warmer regions, like south India, have seen a spike of 2-4°C, said the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

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