Madhya Pradesh recognises heatwaves as natural disasters

Madhya Pradesh government has recognised the heatwaves as natural disasters, enabling compensation for fatalities similar to other calamities.

The state government has officially notified heatwaves as a local disaster under the Madhya Pradesh Disaster Management Act of 2005.

This decision will come into effect in summer 2025, following the directives from the central Ministry of Home Affairs.

“The State Government hereby notifies heatwave (hyperthermia) as a local disaster as per clause 3.2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Guidelines on the constitution and administration of the State Disaster Response Fund issued by letter No. 33-03-2021-NDM-I, dated 12th January 2022, from the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management,” the Madhya Pradesh government said in an official statement.

The new regulation is set to take effect in the summer of 2025. As a result, individuals affected by heatwaves will be eligible for the same financial assistance that is currently available for those impacted by floods, earthquakes, and lightning strikes.

According to the Health Ministry, the heat wave killed more than 110 people and led to over 40,000 suspected cases of heat stroke in the past three and a half months.

The highest number of deaths, 36, were reported in Uttar Pradesh state, followed by other northern states including Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha, which has borne the brunt of the extreme weather.

The country has been grappling with extreme weather conditions this summer, with a prolonged heatwave affecting large parts of the country.

The heatwave, which has been attributed to human-driven climate change, has resulted in temperatures soaring to nearly 50 degrees Celsius in north India, making it one of the longest heatwave spells on record.