Heat safety
Heat warnings, who is most at risk, and when to call 108 or 102. This is general guidance, not medical advice.
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- Heatwave signs: heat exhaustion vs heatstroke (as per NDMA)
IMD expects above-normal temperatures in October over most of India (30 September 2026).
- Who is most at risk in the heat
Heat can make anyone ill, but some people are at greater risk and need extra attention.
- Hydration guide for hot days: water, ORS, buttermilk and nimbu pani
In hot weather the body loses water and salt through sweat. The Health Ministry's heat advisory and NDMA's guidance explain how to keep up.
- Cooling a home without AC: shade, night air and cool roofs
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency estimated in 2018 that only about 6% of Indian households used an air conditioner.
- Heat Action Plans: what cities do, and how Ahmedabad's came first
A heat action plan is a city's or state's playbook for hot weather: who issues alerts, who opens cooling spaces, how hospitals get ready and how people are told what to do.
- Safe working in heat for delivery and construction workers
Delivery riders, construction crews and other outdoor workers face the most heat.
- Pets and street animals in heat: water bowls and shade
Heat is hard on animals as well as people. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) issued an advisory in April 2024 on caring for animals in extreme heat, noting that dogs and other animals are vulnerable to dehydration, heatstroke and burns from hot surfaces.
- Reading IMD heat warnings: green, yellow, orange and red
When summer comes, IMD heat warnings appear on the news and on phones. Knowing what each colour means helps you act in time.