India's Heatwave Response Needs More Than Warnings
India's heatwave warnings are becoming more frequent, but warnings alone will not protect people who have no choice but to be outside.
India's heatwave warnings are becoming more frequent, but warnings alone will not protect people.
Telling citizens to stay hydrated and avoid afternoon sun is useful, but it assumes people have choices. Many do not. Construction workers, delivery riders, street vendors, traffic police and daily-wage labourers cannot simply stay indoors when temperatures rise.
This is why heat must be treated as an infrastructure and labour issue, not only a weather issue.
Cities need shaded streets, drinking water points, cooling shelters, workplace heat rules, cool roofs, better public transport and emergency medical readiness. Employers need clear obligations when heatwave conditions become dangerous.
The April warnings should be seen as more than seasonal alerts. They are a signal that India's cities must adapt to a hotter future.
Heat is no longer just uncomfortable. It is a public health risk, and the response needs to be built into city planning.
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