Overview

• The study, published in the journal Temperature, estimates 19,693 deaths from heatstroke and 15,197 from cold exposure over 18 years in India.
• Findings show an upward trend in fatalities due to extreme temperatures, exacerbated by climate change and frequent weather extremes.
• Men of working age face disproportionately higher risks, with heat-related deaths three to five times higher and cold-related deaths four to seven times higher than women.
• States like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab reported the most heatstroke deaths, while Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Bihar saw the highest cold-related fatalities.
• Researchers emphasize that these deaths are preventable and call for the immediate implementation and scaling of heat and cold action plans across vulnerable regions.