health
Life under a Delhi flyover: how one homeless family endures the city's extreme heat
Hour by hour, Shahida and her baby are exposed to the full force of the deadly temperatures affecting India’s capital – without reliable access to food, water or healthcare. Here is a day in their lives
TL;DR
- Delhi is experiencing extreme summer heat, with temperatures consistently reaching 43C.
- Homeless populations are highly vulnerable to heat extremes, lacking access to food, water, and healthcare.
- Last summer, at least 192 homeless people died in Delhi during a nine-day heatwave.
- Shahida, a homeless woman, fears for her baby's health amidst the punishing heat.
- Her family of 10 lives under a flyover after their temporary shelters were repeatedly demolished.
- The family's daily life is dictated by the heat, impacting sleep, hydration, and cooking.
- Women face increased vulnerability due to caregiving responsibilities and constant vigilance.
- Delhi faces a significant deficit in shelter capacity, forcing many to remain on the streets.
- Public shelters are often inadequate and trap heat, offering little respite.
- Despite the challenges, families like Shahida's strive to survive, finding solace in small comforts and holding onto hope.