Heat action plans in India struggle to match rising urban temperatures
Ward-level maps and AI models are helping identify Delhi’s most heat-exposed buildings and communities.
On 11 June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi as temperatures exceeded 45°C, with real-feel levels reaching 54°C.
Despite warnings, many outdoor workers in the informal sector continued working, highlighting challenges in protecting vulnerable populations during heatwaves.
The primary tool in India for managing extreme heat, the Heat Action Plan (HAP), is developed annually by city and state governments. While some regions, such as Ahmedabad and Tamil Nadu, have reported improved outcomes, most HAPs face implementation, funding, coordination, and data availability issues.
A 2023 study found that 95% of HAPs lacked detailed mapping of high-risk areas and vulnerable groups. Experts and non-governmental organisations recommend incorporating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to improve targeting.
A study by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in Bengaluru found up to 9°C variation in land-surface temperatures within a two-square-kilometre ward, driven by differences in building types and green cover.
Delhi’s 2025 HAP introduced ward-level land surface temperature maps to identify high-risk areas. However, experts note that many datasets are adapted from agricultural monitoring tools and may not offer the spatial resolution needed for urban planning.
Organisations such as SEEDS and Chintan are using AI models like Sunny Lives to assess indoor heat exposure in low-income settlements to address this. The models estimate indoor temperatures and wet-bulb heat stress using data on roof materials and construction types, offering building-level insights.
Researchers argue that future HAPs should operate at the ward level and be supported by local heat vulnerability indexes, allowing for tailored interventions such as adjusted work hours, targeted hydration stations, and heat shelters.
Some announced measures—such as deploying water coolers and establishing day shelters—remain pending. Power outages in some areas also reduce the effectiveness of heat relief efforts.
Only eight Indian states officially classify heatwaves as disasters, limiting access to dedicated funding and emergency response mandates. Heatwaves are not recognised under national disaster legislation, which affects formal policy prioritisation.
Experts emphasise that building long-term heat resilience requires integrating HAPs with broader policy areas such as energy, water, public health, and employment. Several national programmes could support these efforts, but local implementation often suffers from limited awareness of available resources.
As climate risks grow, timely, data-driven, and locally tailored heat response strategies will be key to reducing health and economic impacts.
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