Extreme Heat Causes 3,400 Excess Deaths in India, Study Finds
A study estimates that a single day of extreme heat results in approximately 3,400 excess deaths across India. During a five-day heatwave, this number could rise to nearly 30,000. Researchers from the University of California Berkeley adapted data from a multi-city analysis to assess mortality impacts at the district level. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for about 8,100 excess deaths during a five-day heatwave. The study highlights a 2.3-fold disparity between mortality burden and economic capacity in the five states with the highest death rates, which represent 66 per cent of excess deaths but only 29 per cent of India's GDP. The findings underscore the need for targeted federal investment in heat resilience, particularly in high-burden, low-GDP states.
Published 1 day ago • 29 May 2026, 03:15 PM IST