On Monday, the Maharashtra government introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at protecting outdoor informal workers from extreme heat, particularly in urban areas at risk. State disaster management minister Girish Mahajan announced the SOP, which mandates a break from 12 PM to 4 PM and reschedules working hours to 6 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM during orange and red alerts. This initiative targets 15 districts in the Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh regions, including Latur, Amravati, and Nagpur, which are among the most heat-vulnerable areas in India. The SOP outlines measures such as installing water booths in public areas and distributing oral rehydration solutions at health centers to combat dehydration. Additionally, urban bodies are instructed to keep parks open during the afternoon and provide temporary shade structures in busy areas. The government is also investing ₹184 crore (approximately $22 million USD) to establish a training and research center on disaster management in Nagpur, focusing on sustainable cooling strategies.