Sidhivinayak taimes Shimla। A new study led by Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal from PGIMER’s Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, in collaboration with Panjab University, has found a significant link between extreme heat events and increased mortality in Chandigarh. Published in *Nature Scientific Reports*, the research analyzed daily death records and weather data from 2010 to 2015, identifying a critical maximum temperature threshold of 33.8°C. Beyond this point, daily all-cause mortality rises sharply, with deaths increasing by approximately 4.1% during heatwave conditions, the study revealed. The findings highlight that older adults, particularly those above 65 years, are most vulnerable, facing a 1.5 times higher risk of heat-related mortality compared to the general population. The study also noted that while average daily deaths were higher among males, the heatwave-related risk increase was similar for both genders.
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The research team, including Prachi Chauhan, Sanjeev Bhardwaj, Abhishek Kumar and Dr. Suman Mor, emphasized that this is one of the first studies to use actual mortality data rather than theoretical models to establish the heat-mortality relationship in the region. Dr. Khaiwal stressed the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and real-time heat monitoring systems. Dr. Suman Mor added that the study supports the development of heat action plans at a granular level, such as ward-level strategies, to identify high-risk zones and protect vulnerable populations. The research calls for integrated planning to mitigate the impacts of rising temperatures and strengthen the city’s preparedness for future heatwave events.
