As India prepares for a hotter-than-normal summer, the Union Health Ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to take urgent steps to handle heat-related emergencies.
In a letter to Chief Secretaries, Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava stressed the need to set up special Heat Stroke Management Units in hospitals, based on the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department.
Heatwave Forecast
According to IMD, above-normal heatwave days are expected from April to June 2026 in many parts of the country, including:
- East, Central, and North-West India
- South-East peninsula
Coastal areas like Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh may be badly affected. Some regions in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka could also face heatwave conditions.
Government’s Action Plan
The Centre has directed states to:
- Set up Heat Stroke Management Units in hospitals
- Keep ambulance services ready
- Share early heatwave warnings with the public
- Report heatstroke cases in real-time on the health monitoring system
Officials have also been told to improve coordination for quick response during extreme heat.
Focus on Public Safety
The government has stressed that early planning and strong coordination are key to reducing heat-related illnesses and deaths during the upcoming severe summer.