According to a study by OP Jindal Global University academics that was published in the journal Temperature, between 2001 and 2019, extreme weather claimed over 34000 lives in India, as confirmed by data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), which showed that 15,197 people died from exposure to cold, while 19,693 people died from heatstroke.

The researchers stressed that severe cold and intense heat present significant health hazards to the general public. They called on the Indian government to enact more robust safeguards for the most vulnerable populations. They pointed out that these deaths can be largely avoided with the correct policies and interventions.

Regional and Occupational Disparities

Not all parts of the nation bore the exact weight of these deaths. The states with the most significant heatstroke deaths were Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. On the other hand, Bihar, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh had the highest rates of cold-related fatalities.

The study also found a demographic trend: working-age men were disproportionately impacted by heat-related fatalities. Given that many males in this age group labor outside for extended periods without proper protection, occupational exposure is probably the cause of this development. The results indicate the need for stronger labor laws, particularly for those operating in hazardous conditions during severe weather.

Also Read: Nestlé India’s Paperless Distribution Center Boosting Sustainability And Digitalization

Urgent Need for Targeted Policy Response

From 2001 to 2014, the researchers examined trends in 24 Indian states using statistical approaches, including panel and spline regression. Whether in extreme summer heat or extreme winter cold, they discovered that mortality rose sharply whenever temperatures diverged far from average. Extreme weather claimed over 34000 lives in India, yet many of these deaths remain unaddressed in public discourse and policy response.

The study draws attention to a vacuum in the literature on global climate health, which has traditionally concentrated on wealthy nations. Given its distinct environment and sizable number of vulnerable people, India needs specific research and customized policy solutions.

The authors advocated for increased funding for housing, heating, cooling systems, and social safety nets for people in low-income or high-risk occupations. They emphasized the necessity of establishing policies that improve resistance to temperature extremes and identifying regional hotspots for death from heat and cold.

They concluded that avoidable losses due to rising temperatures and increasingly erratic winters will occur without urgent policy intervention.

Also Read: NASA Reveals 2024 Global Sea Level Rise Exceeds Expectations