New Delhi: The temperature in the national capital nearly touched 50°Celsius last week as the Delhi and other parts of the country grapple a deadly heatwave.
Those most affected by the rise in temperature are labourers, online food delivery partners as well as auto rickshaw and bike drivers for services like Rapido, Ola and Uber.
Daily wage workers say it is impossible to work outside as the temperature in Delhi rises above 45°C between 12 noon and 5 pm.
Ramkumar, an Ola bike driver, originally from Uttar Pradesh, said, “I have been living in Delhi for the last 20 years and have been working as an Ola bike driver for two and a half years, but this is the first time I am facing such extreme heat. The temperature rise has affected my work. People are avoiding travelling outside in the afternoon at this temperature, opting to use cabs or autos instead of bikes because of the heat. Earlier, I was earning Rs 1,000 after a day’s work, but now I am earning half that, Rs 500,”
“My entire work is based on my mobile; it is impossible to work without it. However, due to this heat, the mobile gets hot and stops working. When the mobile switches off, I have to cover it with a cold water cloth and wait for half an hour for it to start working again. All this has affected my work,” he added.
The temperature rise has also hit food vendors around popular tourist spots in the capital.
Vendors at India Gate, who usually see thousands of tourists every day, said the number of tourists visiting the monument has decreased due to the heat, affecting their sales.
Sixty-five-year old Narpat Yadav, who sells panipuri near India Gate, said he has been in the business for the last 20 years in Delhi. “Only Rs 100 to 200 worth of panipuri are being sold from 11 am to 6 pm, as the number of tourists at India Gate has reduced. Earlier, I used to earn Rs 500-700 per day, but now it is difficult to work due to the heat in Delhi. I have never experienced such extreme heat in Delhi before.”
Several deaths have been reported in the country, including the capital, due to the ongoing heat wave.
Raju, an auto driver, says, “The scorching heat in Delhi has affected my health. If I work for long hours, I get headaches and dizziness. It is very difficult to work in the sun. I have to drink water every half an hour and stop to rest. There are no passengers in the afternoon. In the evening, the heat subsides a bit, so a small number of passengers come, but the heat has impacted the auto business.”
Auto driver Raju. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
A man in Delhi covering his head and face to protect himself from the scorching sun. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
Most of the auto drivers in Delhi are wrapping their heads and mouths with cloths to protect them from the heat. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
A person with a cloth tied around his head and mouth to protect himself from the heat. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
Workers transport heavy boxes near the Red Fort in Delhi in the hot afternoon sun. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
A worker transporting heavy iron goods near New Delhi railway station in the afternoon. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
E-rickshaw driver with his face covered. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
A person with a cloth tied around his head and mouth to protect himself from the heat. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
A food delivery partner standing in traffic near a metro station in Patel Nagar, Delhi. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
Narpat Yadav selling Panipuri near Red Fort. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
Ola bike driver Ram Kumar. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
Ola drivers are wrapping their mobile phones in cool, wet cloths to protect them from the heat.. Photo: Atul Ashok Howale
