Heatwaves in India: Governance Response, Agricultural Risks, and the Role of Heat Action Plans

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued severe heatwave alerts for several states, including West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, signaling an early and intense start to the summer. In response, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has directed state governments to immediately activate their Heat Action Plans (HAPs). This administrative move highlights the growing recognition of heatwaves as a significant 'silent disaster' that requires a multi-sectoral response. Heat Action Plans are comprehensive frameworks designed to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat. The current directives emphasize three critical pillars: inter-departmental coordination, ensuring water availability in public spaces, and strengthening district-level medical infrastructure. For governance, this represents a shift from reactive relief to proactive mitigation, requiring the synchronization of health, urban planning, and water resource departments.