Andhra Pradesh’s heat wave death toll drops to near zero

Vijayawada: After reporting a record 2,776 heatwave deaths due to unprecedented day and night temperatures during the summer heatwaves from 2014 to 2017, Andhra Pradesh has witnessed just three heatwave deaths in the last five years (2020 to 2024), including three consecutive years with zero casualties, all thanks to the consistent efforts of the state government through the implementation of the Heat Wave Action Plan by the AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) and line departments. Continuous monitoring, early warning messages, and alerts about the adverse impacts of heatwaves have significantly reduced deaths due to sunstroke.In the last eight years between 2017 and 2024, AP recorded just 275 heat wave deaths showing a significant decline when compared to the 2,776 heatwave deaths reported before 2017 in the state.According to the APSDMA data, the state reported 236 heatwave deaths in 2017 which significantly came down in 2018 when the deaths declined to single digit with just eight deaths reported in that year. However, the deaths due to heat stroke in 2019 increased to two-digit number (28). The conditions in 2017 and 2019 were almost similar, but the deaths have reduced from 236 in 2017 to 28 in 2019, three in 2023 and zero in 2024.No deaths were reported in 2020, 2021 and 2022According to the data, AP has 136 mandals categorised as severe heatwave prone, 342 mandals as moderate heatwave prone, and 192 mandals as normal heatwave prone."Despite AP witnessing record breaking high temperatures in the last five years such as 47.7 degree celsius in 2024, 46.8 degree celsius in 2023, and an all time highest of 47.8 degree celsius in 2020, the impact of the heat related illnesses were minimised leading to significant reduction in human deaths due to heatwave because of the impact of APSDMA efforts in mitigating the heatwave conditions," said APSDMA MD Ronanki Kurmanath.Kurmanath further said that they are further anticipating zero deaths due to heatwave this year too in the state. When asked whether the APSDMA is under reporting human deaths due to heatwave in the state, a senior official told TOI: "A three member committee consisting of revenue, police and health department officials led by district collector keeps a tab and submits reports to the govt leaving no scope for under reporting the deaths in state."