Most parts of India are going through a severe heatwave as temperatures soar. Over the last decade, the instances of heatwave days have increased resulting in increased deaths. However, different agencies of the government like the IMD, NDMA, NCRB and WMO of the UN provide different data on mortality due to heatwaves. This summer, record temperatures are being reported from different parts of the country. Heatwave warnings have been issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) since the second week of March itself whereas summer usually starts and peaks in the later months. According to the IMD’s monthly report for March 2022, the average maximum temperature recorded in March 2022 was the highest since 1901. In other words, this was the hottest March in the last 122 years for which data is maintained by IMD. In March 2022, the average maximum, minimum and mean temperatures recorded at the national level were 33.10°C, 20.24°C, and 26.67°C respectively. Compared to the normal temperatures recorded for the same month in the period from 1980 to 2010, the average temperatures have gone up above normal by 1.86°C, 1.37°C, and 1.61°C respectively. The temperature in Central India even crossed 35°C while Northwest India recorded an increase of 3.9°C than the normal levels. The absence of active Western Disturbances which bring rain to northwestern and central parts of India in a non-monsoon season like winter and summer is one reason behind the high temperature. In the month of April 2022, the temperatures recorded were in the range of 44 to 47°C in most parts of East Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & Vidarbha. Temperatures of the range 42 to 45°C were recorded in most parts of west Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Telangana, and parts of Jharkhand, Gujarat, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Punjab and in isolated pockets of Marathwada, Bihar & interior Gangetic West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, northern Odisha and Rayalaseema. IMD has been reported to have stated that April 2022 was the hottest April in the last 122 years for northwest and central India. Heatwave is measured relative to usual weather and normal temperatures in a season Envistats, by the Ministry of Statistics, defines a heatwave as “a prolonged period of excessive heat, often combined with excessive humidity”. Generally, heat waves are measured relative to the usual weather in the area and relative to normal temperatures for the season. It usually occurs in the months of March to June, in India. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has defined the following criteria for Heat Waves: The annual average number of heatwave days recorded across states has increased In each decade since 1970, the annual average number of heatwave days in India recorded across states dropped from 99 days in 1970-1979 to 92 days in 1990-1999. This rose to 137 days during 2010-2019. A total of 42 and 36 heatwaves days have been recorded in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The annual average number of heatwave days across states in each decade also follows a similar trend. During 2010-2019, Rajasthan recorded the highest- 13 days, followed by Odisha (12), Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh. In 2020 and 2021, the number of days has been much lower. More than 17,000 deaths have been reported due to heatwaves since 1970 According to Envistats 2022 which publishes data produced by the IMD, a total of 17,488 deaths due to heatwaves have been reported since 1970. While 1970-79 recorded over 2,488 deaths, it dropped to 1,505 in 1980-1989 and has been on a rise since. During 2010-2019, the number of deaths rose to 6,496, about 4.3 times the number during 1980-89. In the 2015 heatwave, close to 2,000 deaths were recorded, the majority from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where extremely high humidity, as well as extreme temperatures, was experienced. May 2015 witnessed temperatures that were 5.5°C above normal. WMO has warned about rising temperatures in India and Pakistan The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has sounded a warning about the soaring temperatures recorded in India and Pakistan. Citing that both countries are rolling out health action plans to save lives, WMO stated that the unusual heat is consistent with what is expected of climate change. According to WMO, between 1992 and 2020 (in 28 years), 25,692 deaths occurred due to heatwaves in India. About one-third of the deaths took place between 2011 and 2021. Data on deaths provided by Envistats, WMO, and NDMA does not match The WMO’s data on deaths due to heatwave does not match with the data provided in Envistats of MoSPI.