Maharashtra records 5-fold drop in heatstroke cases this year

This signifies a 79.3 percent decline in heat-related cases.

Officials credit this decline to improved implementation of heat wave action plans and the delayed onset of heat waves.

Since the start of April, Maharashtra has faced severe heatwave conditions. On April 5, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Marathwada and Vidarbha as temperatures reached 40-42 degrees Celsius, exceeding norms by 3-4 degrees Celsius.

On Monday, Mumbai, Raigad and Thane were issued a heatwave warning for April 15 and 16, with temperatures forecasted to range from 36-38 degrees Celsius.

This marks the first heatwave alert for Mumbai this year, highlighting the escalating heat concerns in the region. Yet, data from the public health department indicates a managed situation regarding heat stroke cases.

The majority of cases have been reported from Buldhana, totalling 12 cases this year. This is followed by Sindhudurg (9), Wardha (8), Nashik (6) Pune (5), Kolhapur (5) among others. Nandurbar, which recorded 68 heatstroke cases last year till April 12, has reported zero cases this year.

Similarly, Mumbai suburbs, which reported the highest number of cases at 72, also show zero cases during the same period.

Heatstroke, also known as sunstroke, is a severe heat-related illness characterized by a body temperature above 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) combined with central nervous system dysfunction, such as altered mental status or loss of consciousness.

“It occurs when the body’s heat-regulating mechanisms become overwhelmed by excessive heat and humidity, leading to a rapid increase in body temperature. Heatstroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to prevent serious complications, including organ damage and death,” said Dr Pradip Awate, the former state surveillance officer.

Symptoms of heatstroke may include hot, dry skin, rapid heartbeat, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion.

Birds and animals rescued by NGO Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare during the heat wave in Mumbai.

Government officials attribute the drop in cases to the successful implementation of the heat action plan.

Sunil Kamble, director of IMD, Mumbai, told The Indian Express, that under the heat action plan, the IMD is focusing more on impact-based weather forecasting. This enables districts to take precautionary measures and alerts hospitals and dispensaries.

“We are conducting workshops on preparedness and mitigation of heat-related ailments. Through this, we are increasing awareness about the required disaster management. This has significantly helped in controlling the number of heatstroke incidences,” he added. However, cases might increase further in the coming days, as the state is predicted to experience another 2-3 days of heatwaves. Additionally, the duration of heatwave days may extend from 2-3 days to 3-4 days, as shared by Kamble.

K S Hosalikar, head of climate research and services in Maharashtra, tweeted on April 10 about a concerning trend: over the last 20 to 30 years, temperatures in the state have shown a positive anomaly, indicating a warming trend.

This could contribute to extreme weather events. Hosalikar tweeted, “Maharashtra urgently need a special ministry for ‘Climate Science and Planning’ to understand the climate impact and develop climate resilience in different sectors like water, agriculture, power, health, and allied fields.”