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Heatstroke Deaths on the Rise

Guwahati, Aug 22: A recent analysis reveals that at least 84 individuals succumbed to heatstroke across India from February to July this year, highlighting a concerning trend of underreported heat-related fatalities.

The report titled 'Struck by Heat: A News Analysis of Heatstroke Deaths in India in 2025,' published by the non-profit organization HeatWatch, emphasizes that diagnostic gaps, inadequate enforcement of worker safety regulations, and outdated heatwave alerts are obscuring the severe effects of rising temperatures on public health.

In contrast, data acquired through the Right to Information (RTI) Act indicated that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) documented 7,192 suspected heatstroke cases but confirmed only 14 deaths between March 1 and June 24 this year.

State-wise Breakdown of Deaths

According to a comprehensive review of national and regional media reports in various languages, HeatWatch identified the following state-wise death tolls:

Maharashtra reported the highest number of fatalities (17), followed by Uttar Pradesh and Telangana (15 each), Gujarat (10), Assam (6), and Bihar, Punjab, and Rajasthan (5 each). Odisha recorded 3 deaths, while Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh each had 1.

Most of the victims were elderly individuals, farmers, daily wage laborers, and school children. A notable early victim was a 13-year-old student from Navi Mumbai, who collapsed on February 26, highlighting the increasing frequency and duration of heatwaves.

Andhra Pradesh experienced the highest incidence of heat-related illnesses (700), followed by Odisha (348), Rajasthan (344), and Uttar Pradesh (325). Overall, HeatWatch tracked 2,287 heat-related illnesses, but cautioned that the actual number is likely much higher due to significant underreporting.

The fragmented nature of India's reporting exacerbates the issue. From 2015 to 2022, the NCDC recorded 3,812 heat-related deaths, while the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 8,171, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted 3,436 deaths.

Despite new forensic guidelines permitting autopsies to classify heatstroke as a cause of death, medical professionals seldom utilize them, often attributing fatalities to dehydration, cardiac arrest, or stroke instead.

The report also criticized the IMD's heatwave warning system, which primarily relies on air temperature thresholds and overlooks the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), a crucial measure that accounts for heat and humidity stress. It cited several instances of deaths in Telangana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra occurring on days when no official alerts were issued.

Call for Systemic Changes

“India's heat crisis is structural, not merely seasonal. Incremental solutions will not suffice,” stated Apekshita Varshney, Founder of HeatWatch and co-author of the report.

“We require robust, localized monitoring, effective early-warning systems, and enforceable worker protections,” she emphasized.

Co-author Shivani Das added, “Acknowledging the dangers of rising heat is insufficient. A health-centered approach is essential—counting every case, preparing hospitals, safeguarding workers, and creating cooler urban environments. These systemic measures will genuinely save lives.”

HeatWatch has called on the government to implement a national heat protection law that mandates work bans during peak heat hours, provides shaded rest areas, ensures access to hydration, and establishes legally enforceable work-rest cycles, similar to practices in countries like France, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE.

Additionally, it urged the creation of a centralized, publicly accessible registry for all heatstroke cases, rather than relying on the restricted Integrated Health Information Platform.

Experts, including former WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan, have long warned that India is significantly underreporting heat-related deaths, with official statistics representing only the “tip of the iceberg.”