Health Minister to Visit Odisha & Other States Struggling with Severe Heatwave Conditions

New Delhi: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting today to assess the country’s preparedness in dealing with intense heatwaves affecting several states. As part of the response, a team of senior officials from the Health Ministry and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) will visit Odisha and other most severely affected states. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been directed to propose measures to minimize the adverse effects of the heatwave. The minister emphasized the importance of protecting lives and preventing heat strokes, announcing a virtual meeting with health ministers from states experiencing soaring temperatures.

The IMD has forecasted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in various states, including Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Tragically, heat stroke-related deaths have been reported in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. In response to the extreme heat, several states have extended their summer vacations.

The National Disaster Management Authority defines a heatwave as a period of abnormally high temperatures exceeding the normal maximum temperature during the summer season, typically occurring between March and June, sometimes extending into July.