Scorching heat gripping Assam, after the first wave of floods and landslides affecting the state, is reflective of extreme weather conditions becoming the new normal. In Guwahati, the urban heat island effect due to concrete structure replacing green cover and the natural landscape adds to the discomfort of residents. Structural and non-structural mitigation measures for heat mitigation in the capital city and other urban areas during summer need a stronger policy push. The state government’s instruction to district authorities to remain vigilant in view of the heat wave alerts issued by the meteorological department and reschedule school hours in accordance with local weather conditions is a pragmatic action. Application of roof cooling solutions to beat the heat in all educational institutions can increase comfort levels for students, teachers and staff members. Integrating application of this solution in all new building construction of educational institutions and retrofitting solutions in old buildings has become a necessity in view of the rise in temperatures and long spells of summer. Students and teachers falling sick due to hot weather conditions results in learning loss which needs to be addressed proactively with structural interventions. Non-structural measures like raising awareness on heat mitigation by drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration, imparting education on heat-related health risks and how to prevent those, and restricting outdoor activities during extreme heat are also essential to improve resilience. The Indian Council of Medical Research advised people to avoid sugary and carbonated drinks such as packaged fruit juice and reduce consumption of sugarcane juice, as consumption of these drinks with high sugar content can increase dehydration risk, cause stomach discomfort and worsen heat stress. The alternatives recommended by the ICMR to hydrate the body include homemade drinks like lemon water, butter milk/lassi, fruit juices with some added salt to maintain the salt balance in the body, coconut water and fruits and vegetables with high water content like water melon, musk melon, pineapple, cucumber as those locally available. The tangy Thekera juice is a refreshing drink and a healthy alternative to sugary drinks during summer. Exploring the commercial potential to launch it as a healthy and wellness beverage needs more scientific research on its shelf-life extension. Proper branding and marketing can unlock the commercial potential of this local tangy fruit from the state, more particularly in making a healthy summer beverage. Integrating such traditional knowledge of Assamese and other indigenous communities about refreshing health drinks made from locally available fruits in climate change adaptation and summer heat mitigation will also give a boost to the rural economy and create new potential for commercial production. The heat island effect in Guwahati, adding heat stress, is attributed to the massive construction of buildings and infrastructure, the loss of water bodies, and the rapid loss of green cover. If urbanisation continues at this pace without addressing the resultant problems, the summer will be worse in the coming years. Installation of more air-conditioners, air coolers, and fans can reduce indoor temperature but will only contribute to outside temperature severely eroding resilience for outdoor activities. Concrete surfaces or household compounds, government and private office premises have contributed to the worsening of the situation with a rise in heat absorption and radiation. The solutions to this problem are already known – planting trees and removing the concrete cover and allowing grass to grow – but sadly, landscaping designs preferred by a large section of city residents, officials or government, and corporate and private entities are skewed towards more concrete covering of the open space. Rooftop gardening gaining popularity among some city residents is an encouraging development, as it helps in roof cooling and increases indoor temperature, and more households adopting it can significantly contribute towards making the city sustainable. While policy discourse on various interventions for summer heat mitigation and increasing resilience against extreme weather events has gained momentum, with more and more domain experts and industrial and business stakeholders taking active participation in it. Ironically, due to the disconnect between the communities grappling with extreme weather conditions and various interventions recommended following such stakeholder discussions, often the solutions remain on paper or are not scaled to reach a wider section of the people. Such disconnect increases dependence of people on government intervention in the form of schemes and projects only for resilience against extreme heat while they remain ignorant or indifferent to their own role in heat mitigation. Reducing heat stress is key to increasing agricultural and industrial productivity for a state which has goals to achieve to catch up with the advanced states. Building awareness on increasing active community participation in adopting solutions recommended by experts for heat mitigation needs to be prioritised, more particularly in implementing the master plans for urban areas, so that mistakes already committed are not repeated. Conservation of water bodies and tree plantation becoming a people’s movement is an urgent need of the hour. Overhauling the urbanrban planning process is also crucial to increase resilience against extreme weather.