The Tamil Nadu Health Department has implemented precautionary measures to combat the growing risk of heatwaves across the state.Health Minister Ma Subramanian stated that the government has ensured a sufficient supply of essential medical resources to manage heat-related ailments. The authorities are actively tracking real-time data via the Integrated Health Information Platform under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health.
“In anticipation of heatwave cases, we have stocked up on the required medical inventory and kept ambulances on standby,” the minister said. He also mentioned that between two to ten beds have been allocated in primary health centres, government hospitals, and government medical college hospitals across the state to treat those affected by heat-related illnesses.
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued for the treatment of such conditions. Additionally, drinking water and oral rehydration solutions (ORS) have been made available at public locations to help people stay hydrated.
Meteorologists have linked the early onset of extreme heat to the La Niña effect, which caused a delayed withdrawal of the northeast monsoon and resulted in a mild winter. The absence of cloud cover and reduced sea moisture levels have further intensified warming across both coastal and interior regions of the state. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius, consistent with previous years.