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Surviving Extreme Heat: A Homeless Family's Struggle in Delhi
Life under a Delhi flyover: how one homeless family endures the city’s extreme heat
Image: The Guardian
In Delhi, extreme heat has become a deadly challenge for over 300,000 homeless individuals. Shahida, a mother of four, endures the sweltering conditions with her family under a flyover, facing daily struggles for water, food, and safety. The heat exacerbates health issues and emotional distress, making survival increasingly difficult.
- 01Delhi's temperatures have reached as high as 43°C (109°F), with over 300,000 homeless individuals exposed to these conditions.
- 02Shahida, living under a flyover with her family of ten, experiences severe stress about her infant daughter's health in the heat.
- 03The family often resorts to buying drinking water at nearly ₹20 (16p) per litre when community taps run too hot.
- 04Nearly 99% of homeless individuals suffer from inadequate sleep during extreme heat, leading to severe physical and emotional distress.
- 05Delhi has a 75% deficit in shelter capacity, forcing many families to live on the streets despite the dangers posed by extreme temperatures.
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Delhi is currently facing extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 43°C (109°F) and nighttime lows around 32.4°C (90.3°F), leaving over 300,000 homeless individuals vulnerable. Shahida, a 20-year-old mother, lives with her family of ten under a flyover, where they face daily challenges of accessing food, water, and safety. The oppressive heat has dire consequences; last summer, 192 homeless people died during a heatwave. Shahida's concerns for her nine-month-old daughter, Jannat, intensify as she struggles to provide adequate care in such conditions. The family often has to purchase drinking water, which is costly, and they endure sleepless nights due to the heat and fear of harassment. Shahida describes the physical and emotional toll of the heat, with many homeless individuals reporting increased irritability and health issues. The lack of adequate shelter in Delhi, with a nearly 75% deficit in capacity, leaves families like Shahida's with few options, forcing them to endure the harsh realities of life on the streets.
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The extreme heat exacerbates health issues and emotional stress for homeless families, making survival increasingly difficult.
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