Thousands of residents and migrant workers in Goa are facing severe health risks due to rapidly rising temperatures and increasing water scarcity. As the effects of climate change intensify year by year, extreme heat conditions are becoming a growing concern across the coastal state — threatening both human life and the delicate balance of its rich ecosystem.

According to recent environmental studies, Goa’s temperature levels have seen a sharp rise over the last decade, particularly during the pre-monsoon and summer months. These conditions have caused a surge in heat-related illnesses, dehydration cases, and water shortages in several parts of the state, especially in inland and rural areas.

To identify the most vulnerable zones, scientists and environmental researchers have used biophysical and climatic models to track human dehydration risks and water availability across Goa. The findings reveal a strong correlation between extreme heat exposure, lack of access to safe drinking water, and the occurrence of severe dehydration — a condition that can lead to organ failure, disorientation, and even death if left untreated.

“We provide the first empirical evidence that the physiological stresses experienced by people in Goa during peak summer months are sufficient to cause severe dehydration and related conditions,” said Dr. Ryan Long, an associate professor of wildlife sciences at the University of Idaho, whose modeling techniques were adapted to study the region’s rising temperatures. “A disproportionately large percentage of heat-related health incidents occur in areas where the predicted rates of water loss are highest.”

Environmentalists also point out that Goa’s coastal and wildlife ecosystems are under serious pressure. Prolonged heat waves, declining rainfall patterns, and saltwater intrusion from rising sea levels are affecting both human and animal species, leading to disorientation, habitat loss, and physiological stress in wildlife populations.

Experts emphasize the urgent need for sustainable water management systems, better urban planning, and community awareness programs to combat dehydration risks and ensure water security. Ensuring public access to clean drinking water — especially in vulnerable rural and tourism-dependent areas — remains a top priority.

Unfortunately, models developed to combat climate change and water scarcity indicate that these challenges will only worsen over time if immediate mitigation efforts are not implemented. Without urgent and collective action, Goa’s residents, ecosystems, and overall quality of life could face an escalating crisis in the years to come.