Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday, June 1, 2026, issued a detailed public health advisory urging residents of the state to take precautions as summer temperatures continue to intensify. The advisory, posted on his official X account, covers hydration, outdoor movement, vulnerable groups, and community responsibility toward labourers and animals.

Context

Writing in Odia and addressing residents as 'priya Odishabasi' ('dear people of Odisha'), CM Majhi warned that even minor carelessness during the current heatwave could lead to serious harm. He urged citizens to drink water every half hour even without feeling thirsty, and to consume traditional cooling drinks such as torani (fermented rice water), bel pana (wood-apple sherbet), mandia peja (ragi gruel), coconut water, and lemon sherbet to maintain health.

The Chief Minister specifically asked residents to avoid stepping outdoors during peak afternoon heat unless absolutely necessary. Those who must go out were advised to carry a water bottle, a wet towel, a cap, or an umbrella.

Policy Backdrop

Odisha has one of India's oldest institutional frameworks for heatwave management. Following a devastating 1998 heatwave that killed more than 2,000 people in the state, Odisha became one of the first Indian states to build systematic preparedness measures. A formal Heat Action Plan was adopted in 2010 and subsequently updated in line with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, focusing on early public warnings, community advisories, and protection of vulnerable populations.

The state's approach combines traditional hydration practices — many of which the Chief Minister cited directly — with institutional mechanisms including district-level control rooms and coordination with the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Stakeholders and Impact

CM Majhi called for special care for children, pregnant women, and the elderly, asking families to keep these groups safely indoors. He also highlighted warning signs of heat-related illness — excessive body ache, dry skin, reduced urination, and dizziness — and urged anyone experiencing these symptoms to immediately contact the nearest health centre or call for an ambulance.

The advisory extended beyond individual households. The Chief Minister appealed to citizens to show compassion toward daily wage labourers working in the heat, calling humanity and empathy the finest hallmarks of Odia sanskriti ('Odia culture'). He also encouraged residents to place earthen pots of water outside their homes or under trees for passers-by and for animals and birds.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and whether district-level heatwave control rooms are being activated ahead of the peak summer period. State governments across eastern and central India routinely escalate preparedness when maximum temperatures breach 40°C, and Odisha's well-documented institutional infrastructure positions it to move quickly. The Chief Minister's public message signals that the administration is treating the current heat spell as a serious public health concern, and follow-up action from district administrations is expected in the coming days.