Thu Sep 04 20:00:58 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**Deadly Heat: Study Links Extreme Temperatures to Fainting and Deaths at Political Rally in Tamil Nadu**

**Chennai, India – September 5, 2025** – A new study has linked extreme heat stress levels during a recent political conference in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, to hundreds of fainting incidents and two tragic deaths. The research, conducted by environmental group ‘Poovulagin Nanbargal’, found that participants at the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) conference on August 21st were exposed to conditions capable of causing fainting within an hour and potential death within 30 minutes.

The study highlights a worrying trend of heat-related incidents in Tamil Nadu and across India, citing previous episodes like the Vikravandi TVK mega-conference in October 2024 and the Chennai Air Show, where five people perished due to heat.

Researchers found that the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) – a measure factoring in temperature, humidity, wind speed, and radiant heat to assess heat stress on the human body – exceeded 43°C between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on the day of the Madurai conference, peaking at 45°C around 3:30 p.m. These figures directly correlate with reports of widespread fainting and the fatalities.

‘Poovulagin Nanbargal’ is urging the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to adopt bioclimatic models like the UTCI in its forecasting and public warning systems. Currently, the IMD relies solely on maximum temperature readings over a 48-hour period to issue heatwave alerts, neglecting crucial factors like humidity and wind speed.

The organization argues that this approach is inadequate in capturing the real impact of heat stress, especially during specific hours when people are most vulnerable. The study emphasizes the urgent need for government agencies to treat extreme heat as a natural disaster, demanding legal, infrastructural, and policy-level interventions.

The report concludes that the lack of timely heat warnings and preparedness measures during mass gatherings underscores the pressing need to revise how India conceptualizes and responds to the growing risks posed by extreme heat.

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