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New Delhi: India reported 7,192 suspected cases of heatstroke and 14 confirmed deaths due to extreme heat between March 1 and June 24, 2025, according to data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The figures, sourced from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), highlight that the majority of cases occurred during May, the peak of the summer season.
Key Data Points
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Total suspected cases (March 1–June 24): 7,192
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Confirmed deaths: 14
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Peak month: May, with 2,962 suspected cases and three deaths
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April: 2,140 suspected cases, six deaths
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March: 705 cases, two deaths
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June (up to June 24): 1,385 cases, three deaths
Andhra Pradesh alone accounted for more than half the suspected cases, recording 4,055 in this period. Other states with high case numbers included Rajasthan (373), Odisha (350), Telangana (348), and Madhya Pradesh (297).
Despite these large numbers, several states reporting hundreds of suspected cases noted no confirmed deaths. Maharashtra and Uttarakhand each reported three deaths, the highest among all states, while Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal each confirmed one death.
Underreporting and Surveillance Gaps
Experts stress that these figures likely underestimate the true impact of heat. The NCDC data is compiled under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme and relies on hospital reporting, which may not capture deaths occurring outside medical facilities or cases misdiagnosed as unrelated ailments, such as heart attacks.
A health ministry official noted, “Surveillance systems capture only a fraction of actual cases. We have some numbers, but never the full picture.” Factors like hospital understaffing and manual data entry affect completeness and accuracy.
Fragmentation in reporting is evident: from 2015 to 2022, NCDC recorded 3,812 heat-related deaths, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 8,171, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted 3,436.
Abhiyant Tiwari, climate health expert at NRDC India, explained, “Many heat-related deaths are misclassified. Excess mortality data during heatwaves provides a better picture of the true toll.” The lack of a unified nationwide reporting system hampers India’s ability to respond to increasingly severe heatwaves linked to climate change.
Statewise Data Gaps and Accuracy Concerns
Several major states—including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal—have previously failed to report complete data to the NCDC. Accusations of underreporting to avoid compensation claims have also surfaced.
Soumya Swaminathan, an advisor to the Health Ministry, has emphasized the need to strengthen death reporting: “Only accurate data can inform better policies.”
Disclaimer: The data quoted is based on preliminary figures reported by the National Centre for Disease Control as of June 24, 2025, and is subject to updates. Experts warn that the figures likely underrepresent the actual number of cases and deaths due to limitations and inconsistencies in India’s heat-related health surveillance system. Many cases and fatalities linked to heat may be missed or misclassified. The true impact of heatwaves on public health may be higher than currently reported.
