As oceans get warmer, colourful coral reefs in Lakshadweep that once teemed with life are now fading to white. The coral cover reduced from an average of 37.24% in 1998 to 19.06% in 2022. Rising sea temperatures are triggering frequent marine heatwaves that leave corals stressed, bleached, and struggling to survive. Urgent efforts to restore and protect them are needed.