A recent analysis by the non-profit HeatWatch, titled ‘Struck by Heat: A News Analysis of Heatstroke Deaths in India in 2025’, reports at least 84 heatstroke deaths India recorded between February and July this year. This analysis suggests the nation’s true heat toll remains significantly masked. The report highlights diagnostic blind spots, insufficient enforcement of worker protections, and outdated heatwave alerts as key factors in this underreporting.
Discrepancies in Official Figures
While HeatWatch identified 84 fatalities, data obtained by PTI through a Right to Information (RTI) Act request reveals a stark contrast. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 7,192 suspected cases of heatstroke and only 14 confirmed deaths between March 1 and June 24, 2025. This discrepancy underscores a fragmented reporting system for heat-related illnesses and deaths across various agencies. Historically, NCDC recorded 3,812 heat-related deaths for 2015-2022, while the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 8,171 and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported 3,436 deaths. [12]
The HeatWatch analysis, based on a systematic review of national and regional media, pinpoints Maharashtra with the highest number of deaths at 17. Uttar Pradesh and Telangana followed, each recording 15 deaths. Gujarat reported 10 fatalities, Assam six, and Bihar, Punjab, and Rajasthan each saw five deaths. Odisha registered three deaths, while Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh each reported one. [3]
Vulnerable Populations and Early Heatwaves
Most victims identified in the report were elderly individuals, outdoor workers, and daily wage labourers. Incidents ranged from farmers collapsing in fields to children and teenagers succumbing during school trips or outdoor play. A tragic case involved a 13-year-old student in Navi Mumbai who died on February 26, marking one of the earliest fatalities of the season. This event emphasizes that heatwaves are arriving earlier and persisting longer in India. [3]
Regarding heat-related illnesses, Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases with 700. Odisha followed with 348, Rajasthan with 344, and Uttar Pradesh with 325. HeatWatch’s dataset captured 2,287 cases of heat-related illness nationwide during this period. However, the organization asserts that the actual number is likely much higher due to underreporting. [3]
Systemic Challenges in Reporting and Prevention
A significant issue lies in how heatstroke deaths India are classified. HeatWatch notes that despite new national forensic guidelines allowing autopsies to classify heatstroke as a cause of death even without direct temperature records, doctors rarely apply these guidelines. Therefore, many cases are instead attributed to cardiac arrest, dehydration, or stroke, effectively obscuring heat’s role in these fatalities.
The report also criticizes the IMD’s heatwave warning system. This system relies almost entirely on air temperature thresholds. It excludes the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which measures the combined impact of heat and humidity on human health. HeatWatch cited instances of fatalities on non-alert days, where workers collapsed in Telangana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra without official warnings in place. This highlights a critical flaw in current alert mechanisms. [13]
Calls for Urgent Reforms and a Health-Centred Approach
Apekshita Varshney, Founder of HeatWatch and a co-author of the report, states that India’s heat crisis is structural, not merely seasonal. She argues that early-warning and alert systems are limited and fail to offer real protection to vulnerable workers. Varshney emphasizes the urgent need for robust, hyperlocal monitoring and effective early-warning systems, coupled with enforceable worker protections. [14]
Shivani Das, another report author, advocates for a health-centred approach. This approach involves accurately counting every heatstroke case, preparing hospitals, protecting workers, and building cooler cities. These systemic changes are crucial for saving lives in a warming climate. [14]
HeatWatch recommends national legislation. Such laws should mandate mid-day work bans, shaded rest areas, access to hydration, and legally enforceable work-rest cycles. These measures align with practices in countries like France, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE. The organization also calls for every heatstroke case to be counted and reported in a centralized, publicly available registry, moving away from restricted-access platforms. [14]
Experts, including former WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan, have consistently warned about India’s undercounting of heat-related deaths. They suggest official figures represent only ‘the tip of the iceberg’. The extreme summer of 2025 saw temperatures in parts of Rajasthan reach 48 degrees Celsius. Moreover, even historically less vulnerable regions like Assam and the Himalayan states reported fatalities. Urgent reforms in heat alert systems, public health preparedness, and occupational safety are vital to protect India’s most vulnerable populations against intensifying heatwaves. [14]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the main reasons for the underreporting of heatstroke deaths in India?
The underreporting of heatstroke deaths in India is primarily due to diagnostic blind spots, weak enforcement of worker protections, and outdated heatwave alerts that do not account for the combined impact of temperature and humidity. Additionally, doctors often attribute heatstroke fatalities to other causes like cardiac arrest or dehydration, masking the role of heat.
Q2: Which populations are most vulnerable to heat-related fatalities in India?
The most vulnerable populations include elderly individuals, outdoor workers, and daily wage labourers. This group faces significant risks due to prolonged exposure and limited access to cooling or protective measures.
Q3: What reforms are being suggested to address India’s heat crisis?
Urgent reforms include implementing robust, hyperlocal heat monitoring and effective early-warning systems, along with enforceable worker protections such as mid-day work bans, shaded rest areas, and hydration access. Additionally, there is a call for a centralized, publicly available registry for all heatstroke cases.
References
- India recorded at least 84 heatstroke deaths in 2025 summer: Study – ETHealthworld.
- Heat and sun strokes killed over 3700 people in India in five years, govt tells Parliament. The Telegraph India.
- India recorded 84 heatstroke deaths in 2025 summer: Study – Rediff.
- India recorded 84 heatstroke deaths in 2025 summer, true toll likely higher: Report – The Assam Tribune.
- National Action Plan on Heat Related Illnesses. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
- As India’s summer begins, understanding the heat and health conundrum – The Hindu.
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