The Madhya Pradesh government has officially recognised heatwaves as a natural disaster, allowing individuals who suffer fatalities due to extreme heat to receive compensation similar to that provided for other natural calamities.
In accordance with directives from the central Ministry of Home Affairs, the state has notified heatwaves as a local disaster under the Madhya Pradesh Disaster Management Act of 2005. The new regulation will take effect in the summer of 2025.
Affected individuals will now be eligible for the same financial assistance offered to those impacted by floods, earthquakes, and lightning strikes.
“The State Government hereby notifies heatwave (hyperthermia) as a local disaster as per clause 3.2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Guidelines on the constitution and administration of the State Disaster Response Fund issued by letter No. 33-03-2021-NDM-I, dated 12th January 2022, from the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management),” the Madhya Pradesh government said in an official statement.
This decision comes in light of severe heat-related fatalities in northern India this year.
From March 1 to June 19, 2024, heatwaves claimed 114 lives, with over 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases reported, according to sources from the Union Health Ministry.
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of heatstroke deaths, with 37 fatalities, followed by Bihar with 17, Rajasthan with 16, and Odisha with 13.
Heatwaves, characterized by excessively high temperatures and often high humidity, typically occur between April and June. They pose serious health risks, including heatstroke and dehydration, particularly in northern and central regions where temperatures can exceed 45°C (113°F). The impact of heatwaves can also extend to agriculture, water supply, and overall public health.
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