A single day of extreme heat can lead to nearly 3,400 excess deaths across India, while a five-day heatwave may cause close to 30,000 deaths, according to a new study by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley.
The study was conducted by researchers Piyush Narang and Ashok Gadgil from the India Energy and Climate Center at the university.
The researchers noted that although global studies have highlighted rising heat-related deaths, detailed district-level data on the impact of heatwaves in India remains largely inaccessible to researchers.
To estimate the impact nationwide, the team adapted findings from a multi-city analysis of heat-related mortality conducted across 10 Indian cities and applied them to districts across the country.
The study underlines the growing public health risks posed by extreme heat events amid rising temperatures and climate change.
