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Supreme Court Heatwave Rights Trigger India Relief Funding

8/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

India added heatwaves to the disaster list on 4 August, unlocking relief funds and prompting Farooq to testify before ministries and MPs after Supreme Court ruled climate-impact protection is a right to life.
Residents of Sunder Nagri slum kept “garmi khata” diaries that recorded temperature of 29.3 °C, 84.6 % humidity and a “feels-like” 36.3 °C.
India Today satellite data showed land-surface temperatures of nearly 44 °C in Mahipalpur and about 37 °C in Vasant Kunj.

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Story summary

India added heatwaves to the disaster list on 4 August, unlocking relief funds and prompting Farooq to testify before ministries and MPs after Supreme Court ruled climate-impact protection is a right to life.
Residents of Sunder Nagri slum kept “garmi khata” diaries that recorded temperature of 29.3 °C, 84.6 % humidity and a “feels-like” 36.3 °C.
India Today satellite data showed land-surface temperatures of nearly 44 °C in Mahipalpur and about 37 °C in Vasant Kunj.