The Union Government has officially added heatwaves and lightning to India’s list of recognised natural disasters, enabling state governments to access financial assistance under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. New Delhi: The Union Government has officially included heatwaves and lightning in the recognised list of natural disasters in the country. States, including Kerala, have long demanded the inclusion of both these phenomena in the Central Government’s list of notified natural disasters. Key Statistics (March 1 – July 26, 2026)Heatstroke fatalities: 20Reported heatstroke incidents: 5000 (4853 reported)Existing list of recognised natural disastersPreviously, the recognised natural disasters list comprised cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, pest attacks and frost/cold waves. With their official recognition at the national level, the State Disaster Response Fund and the State Disaster Mitigation Fund can now be fully deployed for relief.