Union Health Secretary heatwave advisory

All schools in Aizawl district were ordered closed on 28 April 2026 after heavy overnight rainfall that officials said could trigger mudflows, landslides and rockfalls. The closure, issued in an official release, covers higher secondary and other schools in the district to protect students from immediate hazard.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more heatwave days than usual between April to June 2026 , and the Union Health Secretary has written to State and UT Chief Secretaries with a set of preparedness instructions. The same release links the local extreme rainfall event and the IMD forecast as part of increasingly unpredictable weather threats.

Union Health Secretary heatwave advisory: key instructions for states

The Health Secretary asked states to set up dedicated Heat Stroke Management Units in all health facilities and ensure ambulance services are prepared for heat emergencies. Authorities were also told to issue early warnings so schools, hospitals and local administrations can take timely action.

Heat stroke and related cases must be reported in real time on the Ministry's IHIP portal , the letter said. The advisory focuses on rapid detection, referral and reporting to reduce delays in care during peak heat periods.

Union Health Secretary heatwave advisory — regions, temperatures and timing

IMD expects the East, Central, North-West India and the South-East Peninsula to see more heatwave days than normal. Coastal states specifically named were Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh .

The IMD has reported daytime temperatures of 40–46°C across most of the country, while parts of the western Himalayas and some areas in the northeast recorded cooler readings below 36°C . The advisory covers the full IMD warning window of April to June 2026 .

Local officials in Aizawl emphasised that the school closure was a precaution against landslides, mudslides and rockfalls after intense overnight rain. Students and parents were asked to follow district safety notices and avoid travel to affected hill-side areas until conditions stabilise.

State health departments are expected to update readiness plans and share implementation details with the central ministry. The advisory did not include specific timelines for setting up units, funding details, or operational protocols for schools during heatwaves.

The combined notices underline a dual risk: acute local flood and slope hazards in the Northeast, and a broader heatwave threat across large parts of India through early summer.