AP govt unveils summer action plan 2026 to tackle heatwave

Vijayawada: The health department will use the AWARE (advanced warning advisory for resilient ecosystem) digital platform to provide alerts on heat intensity four to five days in advance, enabling district authorities to take preventive steps, announced health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav on Saturday. He said that the health department prepared a comprehensive Summer Action Plan-2026 to tackle the rising temperatures and heat-related illnesses in the state.Satya Kumar Yadav chaired a review meeting with senior officials to assess preparedness based on increasing temperatures in the state. Addressing the meeting, he said the health department conducted virtual training programmes for DMHOs, surveillance officers, epidemiologists, and NCD programme officers. These officials are further training doctors and paramedical staff at primary health centres on identifying and managing heat stroke cases, including reporting them through the NPCCHH and IHIP portals."Under the alert system, temperatures between 27°C and 32°C will be classified as caution, 33°C to 41°C as danger, and 42°C to 54°C as very dangerous. Historical temperature data is also being used to map vulnerable districts and mandals. Real-time monitoring of seasonal diseases is being carried out through the IHIP portal, with daily data collection by health authorities," the health minister said.Stating that the govt strengthened medical infrastructure to handle heat-related emergencies, the health minister noted that first-aid facilities for heat-stroke victims were arranged at primary health centres, and patients requiring advanced care will be shifted to higher-level hospitals through 108 ambulance services.To prevent dehydration and heat-related complications, the state stocked over 1.71 crore oral rehydration solution (ORS) packets across health facilities. Of these, 50.74 lakh packets are available at PHCs and 16.77 lakh packets at urban health centres, while IV fluids were also stocked to meet medical needs, the health minister added.On the occasion, the health minister directed authorities concerned in all districts to create awareness among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, elderly persons, children, construction workers, granite workers, MGNREGA labourers, and traffic police personnel about precautions during extreme heat.He also instructed authorities to coordinate with departments, including rural development, panchayati raj, municipal administration, disaster management, police, fire and safety, electricity, rural water supply, education, and labour, to implement precautionary measures and spread public awareness. Officials were asked to remain vigilant until June, when peak summer conditions are expected.