‘Super El Niño’ projected to cause 15,800 additional heat deaths in India, says report
‘This year’s El Niño is also a ‘postcard from our future’, bringing temperatures climate change is projected to deliver 20 years in the future. In this way, it offers a glimpse at what lies ahead without new investments in adaptation,’ the Climate Impact Lab says in a statement accompanying the report
A new research report warns that a powerful El Niño event in 2026 could lead to nearly 500,000 extra deaths globally by the end of February, with India facing a significant heat-related health crisis. The study from the University of Chicago predicts up to 15,800 heat-related deaths in India over a six-month period, with half of these fatalities occurring in December to February.
Extreme heat and other climate-related events are estimated to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide during this period. India's vulnerability stems from its large population, high exposure to heat, and the number of people who work outdoors. These projections are estimates, and the actual impact would depend on factors such as the intensity and duration of extreme weather, local temperatures, public-health preparedness, and communities' ability to respond to heat emergencies.
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