The Escalating Heatwave Crisis in Punjab—A Wake-Up Call on Climate Change......by Sehajpreet Singh

Punjab is currently in the grip of an acute heatwave, with daytime temperatures breaching 40°C across multiple districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, forecasting particularly severe conditions for April 9–10, 2025. In parallel, the Punjab Health Department has released public advisories urging citizens to stay indoors during peak sunlight hours, remain hydrated, and take appropriate health precautions.

While such advisories are critical in the short term, the frequency and intensity of such heatwaves reflect a much deeper and more alarming trend: the growing footprint of anthropogenic climate change in Northern India.

Punjab’s Heatwave: A Local Symptom of a Global Climate Crisis

Globally, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the hottest years on record. Pakistan has already reported extreme temperatures nearing 49°C, threatening to break global heat records.

Punjab, nestled in the northwestern Indo-Gangetic Plain, is experiencing the downstream effects of this trend. The region is now witnessing multiple days of extreme temperatures annually—a marked shift from past climatological norms.

These persistent high-temperature events are not anomalies; they are becoming the new normal. Punjab has seen a steady increase in the number of heatwave days over the past decade, as confirmed by IMD data and regional climate models.

Cities like Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala are now regularly touching or crossing 45°C in the peak summer months. This increase correlates with broader warming trends observed across the Indian subcontinent.

The Science Behind Rising Heatwaves

Heatwaves are defined as prolonged periods of abnormally high surface temperatures. Their increasing frequency is a direct consequence of global warming, which is driven primarily by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and deforestation.

These emissions enhance the greenhouse effect, trapping more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and destabilizing long-standing weather patterns.

In Punjab, land use changes, declining green cover, and rapid urbanization further exacerbate heat retention.

Concrete-dominated urban landscapes generate ‘urban heat islands’, where temperatures can be several degrees higher than surrounding rural areas. Without adequate mitigation, these microclimate shifts will only intensify.

Sectoral Impacts: Agriculture, Water, and Health

Punjab’s moniker as the “breadbasket of India” is increasingly at odds with its climate vulnerabilities.

● Agriculture: Rising temperatures and erratic precipitation are severely disrupting the sowing and harvesting cycles. Heat stress during flowering or grain-filling stages is already contributing to significant crop yield reductions—up to 20% for maize, according to recent estimates. Paddy and wheat, both water-intensive crops, are also becoming increasingly unsustainable in this warming environment.

● Water Resources: The twin stresses of climate variability and overextraction have pushed Punjab’s groundwater reserves to critical levels. Altered rainfall patterns and reduced recharge rates are accelerating aquifer depletion, threatening both irrigation and drinking water security.

● Public Health: The physiological toll of prolonged heat exposure includes dehydration, heat exhaustion, and life-threatening heatstroke. Vulnerable groups—especially children, the elderly, outdoor workers, and those with pre-existing conditions—are at heightened risk. Hospitals are already reporting an uptick in heat-related admissions.

Adaptation and Mitigation: An Urgent Policy and Research Agenda

To protect public health and ensure long-term resilience, Punjab must adopt an integrated, evidence-based approach. Immediate and long-term actions should include:

● Early Warning Systems: Establishing hyperlocal, real-time heat monitoring and alert systems can help communities and institutions act before temperatures reach dangerous thresholds.

● Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Shifting to less water-intensive crops, diversifying agricultural patterns, and promoting practices like direct seeding and mulching can buffer yield losses and reduce water use.

● Water Management Innovations: Scaling up micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and community-led water budgeting can enhance efficiency and resilience.

● Urban Green Infrastructure: Strategic tree plantation drives, green roofs, and permeable pavements can cool cities and mitigate urban heat islands.

● Public Awareness and Behavioural Change:Investing in mass awareness campaigns that communicate the health risks of heat and the broader context of climate change is essential.

● Renewable Energy Transition: Accelerating the shift to solar and other renewables not only reduces emissions but also alleviates pressure on the electricity grid during high-demand periods.

A Call for Collective Action

The intensifying heatwaves in Punjab are not isolated weather events—they are symptomatic of a larger, systemic climate crisis. The path forward requires a multi-stakeholder response that integrates science, governance, and community action.

As a fellow at the AirCare Centre, we stand at a critical juncture. If we act decisively now—through better policy, sustainable practices, and public engagement—we can build a Punjab that is resilient not only to heatwaves but to the broader impacts of climate change.Ignoring these warnings, however, will place our health, our food systems, and our future at grave risk.

May 2, 2025