India, June 3 -- Heatwaves are no longer a seasonal extreme. They are a recurring public health emergency, killing tens of thousands

As we are about to celebrate World Environment Day, there is a revelation that is both shocking and unfortunate. Heatwaves in India kill at least 3,000 people every year, and this number can rise to 30,000. It is shocking because the number is so high, and unfortunate because no one takes it seriously, even though these deaths can be avoided if the right steps are taken by the government.

For years, the Indian government has reported roughly 800 heat-related deaths annually. But a reputed research paper has challenged this figure. A peer-reviewed study published last week in Frontiers in Environmental Heal...