Odisha heat wave: The ‘silent killer’ of cities you may not have noticed amid soaring temperature

In April, Odisha battles a sweltering heatwave, with daytime temperatures consistently crossing the 40 degrees Celsius mark in several places across the state.

Several districts, including Angul, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur, reported maximum temperatures hovering between 45 and 46 degrees Celsius, prompting statewide health advisories and school closures.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued several orange warnings for heatwave conditions across central and western parts of the state.

Amidst these extreme conditions, an invisible yet significant victim has emerged: the high-rises across the world, including the skeletal structure of the state’s urban spaces, now reportedly struggling silently against the punishing heat.

Cracks in the Foundation: How Heat Strains Structures

According to detailed observations by a NASA study, prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures is causing accelerated thermal expansion and contraction in common construction materials like concrete, steel, and brick.

This expansion during the sweltering day and subsequent contraction at cooler night temperatures create a mechanical stress cycle, leading to hairline fractures that gradually widen if left untreated.

Older structures, especially those built with conventional cement mixes and without modern thermal resilience features, are most vulnerable, with cases of wall and ceiling cracks and visible damage appearing on both heritage structures and newer constructions.

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Materials Under Siege: Concrete, Steel, and Glass

Concrete, known for its excellent compressive strength but low flexibility, suffers significantly under extreme heat. As it absorbs solar radiation, it heats up, expands, and exerts force against adjoining materials. Over time, this can lead to cracks along walls, slabs, and at junctions of columns and beams.

Similarly, steel reinforcement bars inside concrete structures also expand, potentially causing internal stresses that displace the surrounding concrete. Even modern glass facades are at risk, as without proper thermal allowances in their frames, glass panels can crack or shatter under rapid temperature swings.

Synthetic paints inside rooms, too, release strong fumes due to the heat, making construction sites hazardous for workers unless they are cooled artificially or work during night hours. Tile installations are also suffering, as improper water curing under intense heat leads to premature cracking.

Invisible Now, Costly Later

Experts warn that these seemingly minor cracks are not merely cosmetic issues. If neglected, they could compromise structural integrity, necessitating costly repairs, major retrofits, or even leading to partial building failures over time.

Without proactive thermal stress management measures such as expansion joints, thermal insulation, reflective paints, and shaded landscaping, Odisha’s urban infrastructure may also face a decline.

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What Needs to Change

Builders, architects, and city planners advocate urgent adoption of heat-resilient construction techniques. These include:

• Installing wider expansion joints in buildings.
• Using reflective and heat-resistant materials for roofs and facades.
• Incorporating natural ventilation designs to reduce indoor heat buildup.
• Re-greening urban areas with native tree species to restore natural cooling buffers.
• Enforcing stricter quality checks for concrete curing during summer months.

The 2025 Odisha heatwave may serve as a grim reminder that climate change affects not just human lives directly but also the built environment that supports civilisation. Recognising and mitigating this ‘silent killer’ of infrastructure must become a priority as India braces for increasingly extreme summers in the years ahead.