EnvironmentThursday, 24 September 2026·The Hindu - International
Climate Impact Lab report: Super El Niño may add 15,800 heat deaths in India in 2026-27
A Climate Impact Lab report released on September 23, 2026 projected 15,800 additional heat-related deaths in India between September 2026 and February 2027.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On September 23, 2026, the Climate Impact Lab projected that India could face 15,800 additional heat-related deaths, plus or minus 1,600, between September 2026 and February 2027 because of the current Super El Niño.
Key specifics
- The estimate is relative to average conditions during the corresponding months from 1996 to 2025.
- Globally, the report projected 451,000 additional heat-related deaths in the first six months of the El Niño event.
- It projected 239,000 deaths during the September 2026-February 2027 period worldwide.
- The report cited 24,378 regions in its temperature-mortality modelling framework.
- India’s national rainfall deficit stood at about 15% below normal up to September 22, 2026, according to the news item.
Exam lens
Environment and climate-change reports are important here. TNPSC may ask about El Niño, the 15,800 India estimate, the 24,378-region methodology, or the link between heat, rainfall deficit and mortality.