SC seeks Centre, states' response on steps to curb heatwave deaths

NEW DELHI Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Union and state govts on a PIL seeking urgent measures by authorities to ensure protection to outdoor workers from heatwave during summer months.Appearing for PIL petitioner Adil Sharfuddin, senior advocate M R Shamshad told a bench headed by CJI B R Gavai that with severity of heatwaves increasing with every passing year, the number of deaths due to it has increased - 374 in 2021, 730 in 2022, 264 in 2023 and 733 in 2024.The petitioner said outdoor workers are most vulnerable to heatwaves and the govts must devise a scheme to protect them. "Most of these workers are employed in unorganised sectors and with job insecurity, no social security and lack of access to healthcare facilities exacerbate the situation of these workers," he added. TNN