Telangana Declares Heatwave a State Disaster, Announces ₹4 Lakh Relief for Victims’ Families

In a landmark move, the Telangana government has declared heatwave and sunstroke conditions as a “state-specific disaster” and approved ₹4 lakh ex-gratia for each death caused by extreme heat.

The announcement was made official through a Government Order (GO) issued by Special Chief Secretary (Revenue-Disaster Management) Arvind Kumar on Tuesday. The state will now extend financial aid from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to the families of heatwave victims.

Under the new directive, up to ₹4 lakh will be disbursed per death attributable to heat-related causes, marking a substantial increase from the earlier ₹50,000 assistance under the Apadbandhu scheme.

“The impact of heatwaves often goes unnoticed because they do not damage infrastructure the way floods or storms do,” the GO stated, acknowledging the “hidden hazard” nature of extreme heat.

District collectors have been tasked with verifying heat-related deaths through medical and weather data. Affected families must provide identification documents, death certificates, and other relevant reports to access the relief amount.

“The district medical and health officer will assist in confirming the cause of death, ensuring transparency and timely compensation,” the order read.

The GO noted that in 2024, at least 28 out of Telangana’s 33 districts reported 15 or more days of heatwave conditions. The order highlighted that fatalities are frequently under-reported, especially among vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, children, and outdoor workers.

It further stated that deaths from heatwaves don’t receive the same attention as those from earthquakes or floods because they are not immediately visible and measurable.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature hits 40°C or higher with a deviation of 5–6°C from the normal. A severe heatwave occurs when the deviation exceeds 7°C, or when temperatures soar past 45°C, regardless of baseline temperatures.

“This step will ensure that families who lose loved ones to extreme heat are no longer invisible in the eyes of the disaster management system,” a senior official said.