Urban heat is emerging as a chronic disaster in Indian cities. Critically analyse the institutional gaps in Heat Action Plans and propose a multi-sectoral response.

Introduction: NDMA recorded 733 heat-stroke deaths in April-June 2024, and IMD logged 536 heatwave days in 2024 — the highest in 14 years; Navi Mumbai's 2023 Bharat Ratna event saw 14 deaths despite a notified Heat Action Plan.

Body: Of 23 heatwave-prone states, only 17 have HAPs (CPR 2023 audit), and most lack vulnerability assessments, ward-level granularity or financing. The Disaster Management Act 2005 does not classify heatwave as a notified disaster, blocking SDRF/NDRF access. Ahmedabad's HAP (2013, IIPH-Gandhinagar) — cool roofs, IMD early-warning, red-flag hospital protocols — remains under-replicated. Surface UHI intensity has risen 2-3°C in metros (IIT-Bhubaneswar 2024); AMRUT 2.0 (₹2.99 lakh crore) and Smart Cities Mission lack heat-resilience earmarks, and outdoor-worker protection under Code on OSH 2020 is silent on temperature.

Way forward: NDMA, with MoHUA and MoHFW, should notify heatwave as a state-specific disaster, mandate ward-level HAPs under AMRUT 2.0, and integrate Cool Roofs with PMAY-U 2.0 by FY27.