Prepare for the next challenge: Heat waves

An unusually high number of western disturbances in March, April, and May subdued the sweltering heat usually felt in these months, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It added that similar conditions are likely to persist till May 18. While there are no other projections on heat waves from IMD yet, an earlier advisory in March warned that “above normal seasonal maximum temperatures are likely” in most parts of the country.

This means that states must begin implementing their strategies to help people cope with the effects of heat waves. There is an additional challenge — most states are under various levels of lockdown, and citizens, many of whom can’t afford cooling mechanisms, are forced to stay inside their homes, which may not be thermally comfortable. With rising peak temperatures, cooling in India is no more a luxury, but a necessity. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been pushing states to build resilience to extreme heat by designing their Heat Action Plans (HAPS), improving public awareness and community outreach; setting up early warning systems, and capacity-building of health care professionals; and reducing heat exposure and promoting adaptive measures. Today, 23 states have HAPS. NDMA is now encouraging cities to go for low-cost cool roofs (roofs painted with solar reflective paint or covered in white tiles), which is a cost-effective way to keep indoor temperatures lower. It is imperative to build adequate resilient systems to minimise the damage to people’s health, especially those at the bottom of the pyramid and especially in times of an ongoing health crisis.