Bidar/Kalaburagi, 15 May

Kalyana Karnataka region is in the grip of a severe and unprecedented heatwave, prompting citizens, activists and lawmakers to urge the State government to declare the region a “state-specific disaster” zone.

In April, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) reported alarming temperatures: Bidar peaked at 45°C, the highest in the State. The highest temperature recorded in Bidar’s was 43°C in 1931.

Yadgir was the second hottest in the State at 44.6°C, followed by Kalaburagi at 44°C and Raichur at 43°C. Over three weeks, Kalyana Karnataka residents have endured a daily average of 44°C, with no respite in sight.

Karnataka’s neighbour Telangana, which is also facing as hot as a furnace, has already declared several districts as “state-specific disaster” zones. Telangana has announced Rs 4 lakh in compensation to families of those who die due to heatstroke. Now, locals in Kalyana Karnataka are demanding that the Karnataka Congress government follows suit.

 Salar News attempted to contact the District In-Charge Minister and Minister for Forest, Zoology and Environment Eshwar B Khandre ,Rahim Khan Minister For Muncipal Administration and HAJJ Government of Karnataka, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Kalaburagi In-charge Priyank Kharge, and Dr Ajay Singh, Chairman of the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), regarding the 'state disaster' declaration for heat waves, but our calls went unanswered.

Salar News contacted (District In-Charge Minister and Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre, Minister for Municipal Administration and Hajj Rahim Khan, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge and Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board Chairman Ajay Singh to seek their response on declaring the heatwave a state-specific disaster. However, none responded to calls or messages.

Public health, livelihoods and water in crisis

The intense heat has devastated daily life, triggering health emergencies, water shortages, and agricultural decline. Vulnerable communities — particularly daily wage workers, farmers, labourers, and sheep herders — are at the mercy of the relentless sun.

Savitri, who heads a women welfare cooperative society in Bidar, told Salar News, “Daily wage workers and herders can’t afford to stay indoors. They risk heatstroke just to survive. The government must provide Rs 4 lakh compensation to families of victims, just as Telangana.”

The Joint Secretary of Bidar’s Janavadi Mahila Sangathan District Co-operative Society in Bidar added that those “sitting in air-conditioned rooms must not ignore those toiling in this oven-like heat”.

Despite the heat, water and first aid are not easily accessible to labourers.
The villagers from Bhudera fume over the lack of basic amenities under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), including water, shade, and first aid. Daily wage workers Premila and Aleema blamed the Public Development Officers (PDOs) for failing to provide such basic amenities.

However, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Taranum told Salar News, “Officials have been instructed to ensure that all necessary facilities, including shade, water, and medical aid, are made available to those in need.

Deforestation to be blamed

Vinay Kumar Malge, State Wildlife Board member, explained that the proximity to heat-prone regions such as Telangana and Maharashtra, combined with high-pressure systems, makes it hotter. “Extended dry spells reduce soil moisture and vegetation cover, turning land into a heat-absorbing surface,” he said.

“Declaring Bidar a state-specific disaster zone is not mandatory, but the government should prioritise public relief and be ready to declare a disaster zone if conditions worsen. Public buildings should be painted white to reflect heat, and shade and water facilities must be expanded,” he added.

Basavaraj Biradar, an Agriculture Assets Technical Officer, blamed deforestation for the unrelenting heat. “Tree-cutting for urbanisation is drying up land and intensifying heat. The consequences of deforestation are severe. It leads to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and increased temperatures. The region is already experiencing extreme heatwaves, and deforestation is only exacerbating the problem."

Government’s awareness drives

Bidar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma told Salar News the administration is launching public awareness campaigns to educate residents about heat safety, including staying hydrated, avoiding exertion during peak hours, and recognising signs of heatstrokes. “We are working to ensure essential facilities are accessible to all,” Sharma said.

AC helmets for traffic cops

The Kalaburagi police have introduced air-conditioned helmets and masks to protect traffic officers from extreme temperatures and poor air quality. Police Commissioner Sharanappa SD announced that 10 AC helmets were issued on a pilot basis, with more to follow.

MLAs and officials demand urgent relief

The demand for formal disaster recognition is gaining momentum across the political spectrum. Bidar South BJP MLA and State Secretary Shailendra Beldale has called for the immediate release of Rs 1 crore per Assembly constituency, totalling Rs 6 crore for Bidar district, to combat acute water scarcity in over 100 residential areas.

Humnabad BJP MLA Siddalingappa Patil supported the call: “Telangana has set a good example. Karnataka must also recognise heatwaves as state-specific disasters. People are crying out for help. The Congress government must respond with urgency. It’s time for action, not just words.”

Although Congress MLAs are yet to issue a statement, Taranum told Salar News that the government has urged the public to take necessary precautions during heatwave.

What is a 'state-specific disaster'?

If the government declares Kalyana Karnataka a state-specific disaster zone, the following would be enabled:

• Ex-gratia compensation to families of heatstroke victims.
• Allocation of emergency funds for relief.
• Enhanced disaster management and early warning systems.
• Deployment of mobile health units and installation of water and shade points.
• Long-term mitigation schemes, including heat-resistant infrastructure.

The plight of workers

I’ve been working in construction for over 15 years, and summers are the hardest. We start by 9am and rest an hour in the afternoon, but it’s not enough. We bring water from home, but it gets hot quickly. There’s no first-aid or medical help if someone falls sick
-Basavaraj Halladakeri, a labourer from Bidar

We work under the blazing sun from morning till 5.30 pm with no proper breaks or protection. The heat is making us sick, but we have no choice—our wages are barely enough to survive or care for our families
-Sangeeta, a construction labourer from Bidar

The heat is unbearable. I have two cows and a buffalo, and it’s hard to find grass or water for them. I bring them home by afternoon to protect them. If any of them die from the heat, the government must give us compensation

-Siddu Pathedar, a farm worker from Yadgir

Farmers in villages such as Yakshinthi, Gaudur, Tonnur, Kollur, Hayyala, Biikura, Anasur, Gondenur, Konkal, Tumakuru and others are losing crops to this unbearable heat. Rice, sugarcane, vegetables—all are drying up

-Ningappa Karadi, a farmer from Shahapur in Yadgir

Working with burning stones under the scorching sun leaves us dehydrated—we keep drinking water but can’t eat properly, and our health is suffering. There’s no shade, no first-aid, no medical help at our site. No one visits us or offers any support    

-Vishvaradhya Badigera, daily wage worker in Shahapur