NEW DELHI: In view of rising temperatures, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday asked authorities across the country to take measures to protect the most-vulnerable sections of society from the dangers of heatwave conditions.
The commission said National Crime Records Bureau data shows that 3,798 people reportedly died between 2018 to 2022 due to heat and sunstroke. The number of deaths was high in 11 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar.
In view of heatwaves particularly in the northern, central and western parts of the country, NHRC has written to these 11 states, asking them to take immediate preemptive measures to protect vulnerable people, especially economically weaker sections, outdoor workers, the elderly, children and the homeless.
The commission has also asked them to make adequate arrangements for shelters and relief material, amend working hours and ensure standard procedures for treating heat-related illnesses. NHRC has sought action-taken reports on measures implemented from the 11 states — Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
NCRB data from these states shows that they account for 3,566 of the 3,798 deaths reported between 2018-2022. In UP, 508 people died of heatstroke, it was 470 in Maharashtra, 467 in Bihar and 466 in Telangana.
In its letter to the states, the NHRC mentioned the National Disaster Management Authority’s guidelines to mitigate impacts of heatwaves. Besides standard protocols for treating heat-related illnesses, the guidelines also call for activating public spaces such as schools, anganwadi centres and community halls with adequate ventilation, fans, drinking water and basic medical supplies.
Fans, cool roof materials and ORS sachets must be provided to families in informal settlements and labour colonies, the NDMA guidelines state. For workplaces, it calls for providing shaded rest zones, hydration support and encouraging the use of protective clothing.
Between 2013 to 2022, the highest number of deaths — 1,908 — due to heatwaves was reported in 2015 followed by 1,338 in 2016 and 1,274 in 2019, according NCRB data on deaths for all states and UTs due to heatwave shared by the govt in Parliament.
