Overview

• The Supreme Court has given the Centre and key ministries two weeks to respond to a petition highlighting failures in heatwave preparedness and over 700 deaths linked to heat stress in 2024.
• The petition, filed by environmentalist Vikrant Tongad, underscores unimplemented 2019 Heat Action Plan guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
• Scientific reports, including those from the IMD and IPCC, warn of a tenfold increase in heatwave risks, expanding to over 70% of India's landmass with severe impacts on health, food, and water security.
• The plea argues that the Centre is legally obligated under the Disaster Management Act and Environment (Protection) Act to mitigate heatwave impacts and protect vulnerable populations.
• The petition also seeks victim compensation, early warning systems, and social security measures for at-risk groups during extreme heat events.