A 19-year study reveals that thousands of deaths in India from extreme heat and cold are preventable, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure and social safety measures.
Key Points at a Glance
- Between 2001 and 2019, India recorded at least 19,693 heatstroke deaths and 15,197 cold exposure deaths.
- 2015 saw the highest fatalities: 1,907 from heatstroke and 1,147 from cold exposure.
- Men were disproportionately affected, with male deaths 3–5 times higher for heat and 4–7 times higher for cold exposure.
- Many of these deaths are avoidable with improved infrastructure and social support systems.
A comprehensive 19-year study conducted by researchers from O.P. Jindal Global University has revealed a startling but preventable crisis unfolding across India: thousands of deaths caused by extreme temperatures—both heat and cold—could have been avoided with better infrastructure and public policy. The findings paint a sobering picture of climate vulnerability and social inequality in one of the world’s most populous nations.
Analyzing mortality data from 2001 to 2019, the researchers identified at least 19,693 deaths due to heatstroke and 15,197 deaths attributed to exposure to cold. These are not estimates of excess mortality based on temperature fluctuations—they are concrete, recorded fatalities directly caused by extreme weather conditions. Particularly alarming is the fact that such tragedies persist despite growing global awareness of climate change and its risks.
The year 2015 stood out as the most deadly in the study, with 1,907 individuals dying from heat-related causes and 1,147 from cold exposure. Researchers believe these figures are likely underreported due to data limitations, especially in rural areas where deaths may not always be accurately classified or recorded.
What makes this study especially compelling is its deep dive into the demographics of the victims. In contrast to many global studies, which often identify women and the elderly as most at risk from climate-related stress, the Indian data suggests a striking gender disparity—men are disproportionately dying from both heat and cold. Male fatalities were three to five times higher for heatstroke and four to seven times higher for cold exposure compared to females.
This discrepancy is attributed in part to occupational exposure. A large proportion of India’s male population works outdoors in agriculture, construction, and informal labor sectors where they are routinely exposed to the elements. Long hours in the sun during heatwaves or lack of proper shelter during cold spells dramatically increases the risk of fatal outcomes. With little access to protective gear or climate-controlled environments, these individuals face conditions that are not just uncomfortable but lethal.
Beyond the human cost, these findings expose glaring gaps in India’s infrastructure and social safety nets. Many of the deaths occurred among economically marginalized populations living in inadequate housing—without insulation, ventilation, or heating systems. Urban slums, in particular, become heat traps in the summer and offer little refuge in winter. The lack of public cooling centers, insufficient access to clean drinking water, and poor emergency response mechanisms compound the problem.
The researchers stress that these deaths are largely preventable. Access to basic infrastructure—such as shaded work areas, affordable and insulated housing, emergency cooling and warming shelters, and public awareness campaigns—could dramatically reduce exposure-related fatalities. Moreover, robust data collection and reporting mechanisms are essential to identify at-risk groups and develop timely, localized interventions.
This study arrives at a critical time. India, like many countries, is grappling with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change. Heatwaves in recent years have become longer and more severe, while unpredictable cold spells continue to catch unprepared communities off guard. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of worsening scenarios in South Asia, the stakes for proactive adaptation are higher than ever.
Furthermore, the research challenges policymakers to rethink existing frameworks. Current disaster relief strategies often focus on acute natural disasters like floods or cyclones, while heat and cold-related risks remain under-prioritized despite their rising toll. Climate resilience must be redefined to include long-term investment in public health infrastructure, particularly in urban planning, rural outreach, and workforce protection.
The study’s authors advocate for an integrated response: combining environmental monitoring with real-time health data, improving labor laws to protect workers during temperature extremes, and integrating climate education into public health campaigns. They also emphasize the importance of engaging local communities in climate adaptation efforts, ensuring that interventions are culturally appropriate and practically accessible.
While the findings are specific to India, they resonate globally. Many developing nations face similar structural vulnerabilities where poverty, informality, and climate risk intersect. As global temperatures rise, India’s experience may serve as a warning—or a blueprint—for how countries can address preventable deaths through proactive, inclusive, and climate-conscious governance.
In the end, this study reframes heat and cold not just as environmental challenges but as issues of justice and equity. The people dying from exposure to extreme temperatures are not victims of nature alone—they are casualties of inaction, infrastructure deficits, and preventable neglect.
Source: Taylor & Francis Group
