India adds heatwaves and lightning to notified natural disaster list

The Indian government has officially added heatwaves and lightning to its list of notified natural disasters under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. This decision, announced by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, allows state governments to access financial assistance through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for relief and mitigation efforts.

The move follows recommendations from the 16th Finance Commission and addresses the increasing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change. Previously, heatwaves were not part of the 12 notified categories of natural calamities. Under the new policy framework for 2026-31, heatwave mitigation projects will now be eligible for disaster mitigation funds.

Official data indicates the urgency of the measure, noting that at least 20 deaths from heatstroke were recorded between March 1 and July 26, 2026, with nearly 5,000 heatstroke cases reported across various states, including Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, and Rajasthan.