The Telangana government issued an order declaring heatwaves and sunstrokes as a "State Specific Disaster" to provide relief to the families of victims. The order came on Tuesday.
As part of this new initiative, ₹4 lakh in ex-gratia will be provided to the next of kin of those who succumb to heat-related incidents.
The government order notes that heatwaves are often considered a "hidden hazard" with their impacts being under-recognised due to difficulties in measurement and assessment. It highlights that deaths caused by heatwaves are frequently under-reported, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
The order also specifies that, except for five districts, all the remaining 28 districts in Telangana have experienced heatwaves for at least 15 days. Previously, in the absence of a specific ex-gratia for heatwave victims, the state offered ₹50,000 to the families of those who died from heatstroke under the Apathbandhu scheme.
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Furthermore, the District Collector has been directed to ensure that the appropriate authorities properly diagnose heat-related deaths. This diagnosis should be based on the individual’s exposure to high temperatures and the exclusion of other causes of hyperthermia, as outlined in the order.
This move reflects the state's commitment to recognising heatwaves as a serious threat and providing proper compensation to the affected families, especially in light of increasing temperatures and the growing frequency of such extreme weather events.
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