Telangana Unveils Heatwave Action Plan 2025 to Tackle Rising Temperatures
The Telangana government has launched its official Heatwave Action Plan (HAP) 2025, aiming to protect people from extreme heat conditions. The plan focuses on identifying high-risk areas and preparing local-level strategies to reduce heatwave impacts.
Minister P. Srinivas Reddy released the report, which includes a thorough study of heat stress and vulnerability across all 33 districts of the state.
To better understand and manage heatwave risks, the Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS) created a detailed Heatwave Vulnerability Map. This map sorts every mandal into five risk categories using past weather data and population exposure trends.
Heatwave Risk Classification by Mandal
– Severe Risk: 6 mandals, affecting 4.98 lakh people. These areas experienced 4 or more years of severe heatwaves and 6 or more years of general heatwave conditions.
– Critical Risk: 106 mandals, home to 50.64 lakh people. These places saw over 2 years of severe and more than 4 years of regular heatwave activity.
– Semi-Critical Risk: 189 mandals, with 106.19 lakh people exposed. These areas faced at least 1 year of severe heat and more than 1 year of overall heatwave impact.
– Vigilant Category: 287 mandals, covering 178.53 lakh people. These regions had no severe heatwaves, but saw at least 1 year of general heatwave exposure.
– Safe Zone: 24 mandals, with 9.86 lakh people. These areas recorded zero heatwave events in recent years.
Hyderabad Among Safest Zones
Most of Hyderabad and its nearby mandals fall under the Vigilant or Safe category. These areas have largely avoided severe heatwaves, although some saw mild temperature spikes in isolated years. Southern parts of Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts are also listed as safe, having shown no signs of heatwave impact.
High-Risk Areas Identified
The most heat-sensitive zones are located in northern, eastern, and southeastern Telangana. Districts like Nizamabad, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Bhadradri Kothagudem fall under the severe and critical categories. These regions have faced repeated spells of extreme heat over the past several years.
With HAP 2025, Telangana is taking a proactive step to safeguard its citizens by using local data and targeted strategies. The state aims to reduce health risks and enhance community preparedness as climate conditions continue to change.
