Heatwaves, lightning now a natural calamity in NDRF guidelines

Why in News?

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed the Lok Sabha that heatwaves and lightning have been included in the list of notified natural calamities under the operational guidelines of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the award period 2026–31.

Key Highlights

• The inclusion follows the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, which highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change.
• The Commission recommended that heatwaves and lightning be recognised as notified natural calamities for the 2026–31 award period.
• Based on these recommendations, the Ministry of Home Affairs has updated the operational guidelines governing the administration of SDRF and NDRF.

Relief and Assistance

• With this inclusion, State Governments can now utilise SDRF funds to provide relief, compensation, and assistance to people affected by heatwaves and lightning.
• Financial support under NDRF may also be extended in cases of severe disasters requiring additional central assistance.

Existing List of Notified Natural Calamities

• Before this revision, the list of notified natural disasters included 12 calamities: cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslides, avalanches, cloudburst, pest attack, and frost and cold waves.
• With the addition of heatwaves and lightning, the list has now expanded to 14 notified natural calamities.

Heatwave Impact

• The Ministry informed Parliament that at least 20 heatstroke deaths were reported across the country between March 1 and July 26, 2026, underscoring the growing public health risks posed by extreme heat.
• The decision reflects the government’s recognition of the rising threat from climate change-induced extreme weather events and the need for enhanced disaster preparedness and response.

Source: HT

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