India needs plans on weathering hot spells, says research group

PUNE: Both long-term policies and research on how people can cope with or adapt to extreme heat are missing in the country, a recent review by Pune-based Prayas Health Group said. There is ample study of the health consequences of extremely hot temperatures in terms of heatwave deaths and illnesses.
The researchers, who studied peer-reviewed journal articles and grey literature using PubMed, Google search, cross-references, and government websites for this review, said that despite increasing frequency of extreme heat each year, there is little understanding in the public domain about the role of type of housing, household ventilation, fans, air-conditioning, access to water, electricity and healthcare in reducing the risk of heat-related mortality or morbidity in India.
Researcher Shrinivas Darak from the Prayas group said, “Most Indian studies assessing the burden of heat-related illnesses are based on farmers and industrial workers. Everyone is not equally at risk of experiencing adverse health impacts due to heat. The elderly population and those working outdoors in the unorganized sector could be more vulnerable. Apart from research in the organized sector, studies to assess heat vulnerability of the unorganized sector are also needed. It will help bring out factors that make people vulnerable to experiencing adverse health impacts of heat.”
The National Disaster Management Authority is working with 23 highly vulnerable states and more than 130 districts and cities to help prepare heat action plans like Ahmedabad’s.
Darak said more context specific research is required to create evidence to shape a locally effective heat action plan. Prayas will share the findings with NDMA and state departments to address these gaps and take up studies for solutions. Other researchers included Ritu Parchure and Vinay Kulkarni.