Survival before safety for Delhi's poor as temperatures hit 45C

Delhi is grappling with extreme heat as temperatures soar above 45°C, severely impacting the city’s poor, particularly informal workers who rely on outdoor labor for daily wages. In bustling markets, while shoppers find refuge in air-conditioned stores, street vendors, rickshaw drivers, and other informal workers continue to toil under the blazing sun. Many, like 52-year-old cycle-rickshaw driver Harish Chandra, face a daily struggle to balance survival with safety, as stopping work means losing income essential for their families’ sustenance. The informal sector constitutes nearly 90% of India’s workforce, with most workers lacking job security or contracts, making it impossible to avoid exposure to extreme heat. Chandra described the physical toll of the heat, noting that by noon the sun becomes unbearable, yet the necessity to earn forces him to continue working. He has sent his family back to their village in Bihar, where despite high temperatures, the open spaces and better ventilation offer some respite compared to Delhi’s congested urban environment. For many like him, the summer heat is no longer a seasonal challenge but an ongoing threat to their health and livelihood. Climate experts warn that heatwaves in South Asia are intensifying due to global warming, with the heat season extending from April to early July before the monsoon arrives. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization, highlighted that current temperatures in India are nearing the limits of human tolerance, posing serious risks to both lives and livelihoods. Delhi’s vulnerability is exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, where dense concrete structures, traffic congestion, and limited greenery trap heat, making the city significantly hotter than surrounding rural areas. As heatwaves become more frequent and severe, the challenges faced by Delhi’s informal workers underscore the urgent need for adaptive measures and social protections. Without such interventions, millions remain exposed to life-threatening conditions while trying to secure their daily survival amid rising temperatures.