🇺🇸▼
On a scorching afternoon in one of Delhi’s most bustling markets, two distinct realities coexist in close proximity. Within brightly lit, air-conditioned showrooms, customers browse racks of clothing at a leisurely pace, effectively insulated from the oppressive summer heat. In stark contrast, outside these climate-controlled sanctuaries, street vendors, fruit sellers, cycle-rickshaw drivers, and ice-cream cart operators labor under a blazing sun. They persist in their work despite ambient temperatures that routinely soar above 40 degrees Celsius, exposing themselves to severe thermal stress.
For the general population, navigating the market during these hours is physically exhausting. However, for millions of informal workers in Delhi, seeking refuge from the heat is not a viable option. Approximately 90% of India’s workforce operates within the informal sector, a status that typically excludes workers from formal contracts, legal protections, or job security. Many rely on daily wages earned through outdoor labor. Consequently, when weather conditions become dangerous, the immediate necessity of earning money to secure food and shelter overrides any concern for personal safety. Without immediate income, stopping work is an impossibility.
Harish Chandra, a 52-year-old cycle-rickshaw driver, embodies this precarious existence. He navigates Delhi’s crowded streets until the heat becomes unbearable. Periodically, he pauses at a public tap to splash water over his face before retreating to a narrow strip of shade near the market. Dressed in thin, worn cotton clothing, Chandra observes that Delhi’s summers have grown increasingly difficult to endure year after year. "The body gives up," he states, highlighting the physical toll of his labor. His daily routine begins around 9:00 AM, when temperatures are somewhat manageable. By noon, however, the intensity of the sun makes pedaling a severe challenge. "Sometimes I feel my body giving up while I pedal," he explains. Yet, cessation of work is not a choice. "If we stop, we don't earn," Chandra asserts. "And if we don't earn, the family doesn't eat."
The relentless heat has fundamentally altered family dynamics for workers like Chandra. He recently relocated his wife and three children to their village in Bihar state. Although temperatures in the village are similarly high, the presence of open spaces and superior ventilation offers a comparative advantage over Delhi’s densely packed neighborhoods and congested lanes. For outdoor workers spending the majority of their daylight hours exposed to the elements, summer has transformed from a seasonal occurrence into an annual battle for survival.
India’s heat season traditionally spans from April to early July, concluding with the arrival of monsoon rains. Climate scientists, however, warn that extreme heat events are becoming more frequent, intense, and unpredictable. Heatwaves across South Asia are intensifying due to the compounding effects of global warming. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization, stated in early June that temperatures currently being recorded in India are approaching the physiological limits of human tolerability. She emphasized that these conditions constitute a "threat to both lives and livelihoods."
Since mid-May, Delhi and its surrounding regions have experienced daily temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. On several occasions, afternoon peaks have surpassed 45 degrees Celsius. While some relief is anticipated over specific weekends, such heatwaves are becoming a persistent feature of India’s climatic landscape. Experts attribute Delhi’s heightened vulnerability to the "urban heat island effect." This phenomenon occurs when concrete infrastructure, vehicular traffic, and insufficient green cover trap solar radiation, causing urban areas to remain significantly hotter than nearby rural environments.
In response, meteorological offices and the Delhi government have implemented regular heat warnings. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi utilized social media to urge citizens to maintain hydration, carry water when outdoors, and monitor for symptoms of heat exhaustion. He specifically highlighted the heightened risks faced by children, the elderly, and outdoor laborers. The city has also activated heat action plans, which include color-coded heat alerts, public advisories discouraging exposure during peak afternoon hours, and the deployment of water kiosks and cooling centers.
Despite these measures, compliance remains challenging for the economically vulnerable. Even when temperatures rise, financial obligations such as rent and groceries cannot be postponed. Mohammad Umar, a 50-year-old tuk-tuk driver, sits near a busy traffic signal from morning until evening, awaiting passengers. He rarely takes days off. However, recent extreme heat forced him to stay home. "My heart was racing and my body had no strength left," Umar recalls. "I must have bathed five times that day just to stay conscious."
The economic penalty for missing work is steep. "On a single day, I can lose 500-700 rupees (approximately $5-$7) if I don't work," Umar notes. "And we still have to pay for food and daily needs. That money comes out of our small savings." This financial pressure compels many workers to disregard health warnings, effectively trading physical safety for economic survival.
The macroeconomic implications of heat stress are profound. A report by the International Labour Organization estimates that heat stress could reduce India’s total working hours by 5.8% by 2030. Workers in agriculture and construction, who spend extensive periods outdoors, are among the most severely affected. Additionally, a Lancet Countdown report indicated that India lost approximately 247 billion potential labor hours to heat in 2024, resulting in economic losses estimated at $194 billion.
Medical professionals caution that prolonged exposure to extreme heat places immense strain on the human body. This risk is amplified for individuals working long hours outdoors without access to shade, cooling mechanisms, or adequate hydration. Dr. Satish Koul, principal director and unit head of internal medicine at Fortis Hospital Gurgaon, notes that hospitals routinely admit patients suffering from dehydration, hypotension, kidney stress, and heat exhaustion during extended heatwaves. "Early warning signs people often ignore include dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea, and confusion," Dr. Koul explains. "If someone stops sweating, becomes disoriented, or collapses, it can quickly become a medical emergency."
For many daily wage earners, escaping the heat is impossible even after their workday concludes. A significant portion of Delhi’s informal migrant workforce resides in densely packed settlements characterized by unreliable electricity, poor ventilation, and a lack of air conditioning. Homes are often constructed from tin sheets and plastic, materials that absorb solar radiation during the day and release heat slowly throughout the night.
Dr. Koul warns that heat-related illnesses become particularly dangerous when nighttime temperatures remain high. This prevents the body from undergoing necessary recovery during sleep. "When the body does not cool down properly during sleep, exhaustion keeps building day after day," he adds. This cumulative exhaustion shapes daily life in these neighborhoods, where families depend on physically demanding labor to survive. Men depart early for outdoor jobs, while many women engage in low-paying domestic work nearby. Alongside long hours of physical labor, women often manage cooking, childcare, and household chores in cramped, hot homes.
Workers attempt to mitigate heat exposure through various coping mechanisms, such as covering their heads, consuming salted water, or adjusting work schedules to avoid the harshest afternoon sun. However, these strategies provide only limited relief. Sanjeeda, a 40-year-old widow, has spent years working in factories, small shops, and private homes to support her children. She reports that in mid-May, she was bedridden for several days with severe headaches and fever following heat exposure. "The sun starts to feel harsh right from the morning," Sanjeeda says. "By the time I reach the houses and start sweeping and mopping, my clothes are already soaked. Some days I also have to clean rooftops where the marble floors feel like they are on fire."
Employers occasionally provide water, lemonade, or access to fans. Nevertheless, for Sanjeeda, employment is non-negotiable. "No matter what the temperature is," she states firmly, "the work has to be done." For millions of informal workers in Delhi, the choice between health and survival is not a preference but a forced calculation dictated by economic necessity. As climate change accelerates, this dynamic is likely to worsen, threatening both individual well-being and the broader economic stability of the region.
Dr. Koul’s clinical observations underscore the systemic nature of the crisis. The lack of infrastructure and social safety nets leaves the most vulnerable populations exposed to escalating thermal risks. While government advisories and cooling centers offer some mitigation, they fail to address the root causes of vulnerability: the necessity of daily wage labor and inadequate housing conditions. Until structural changes are implemented to protect informal workers, the trade-off between survival and safety will remain a defining feature of life in Delhi’s informal economy.
The broader context of global warming exacerbates these local challenges. The intensification of heatwaves is not an isolated event but part of a global pattern of climate disruption. South Asia, in particular, faces some of the highest risks due to its dense population and reliance on agriculture and outdoor labor. The economic losses projected by organizations like the ILO and Lancet Countdown reflect not just lost hours, but lost potential and increased mortality.
Sanjeeda’s experience illustrates the gendered dimension of this crisis. Women, who often juggle paid labor with unpaid domestic responsibilities, face a double burden during heatwaves. Their work is frequently less visible and less protected than that of male workers, yet equally critical to household survival. The lack of recognition and support for this labor renders them particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
As temperatures continue to rise, the resilience of these workers will be tested. The coping mechanisms currently employed are insufficient for the increasing intensity of heat events. There is an urgent need for comprehensive strategies that integrate heat adaptation into urban planning, labor laws, and public health initiatives. Without such measures, the cycle of survival before safety will persist, undermining the health and dignity of millions of informal workers in Delhi and across India.