Heat and dust

Temperatures are at a record high and it's only spring. It is 43C. India has had the hottest summers on record in the past 5 years.

The people on the streets, the workers and homeless feel this oppressive heat the most. Dehydration and death are a regular occurrence. Rickshaw pullers, street hawkers work with a wet cloth on their head. Women working outdoors cover their faces completely with their scarves called a dupatta. Those who have the choice, retreat indoors for a few hours in the middle of the day.

We are getting prepared for the fury of the heat in the days and weeks ahead. We are recycling and storing bottles of all sizes, filling them with water to give to everyone who comes to the door ... with a delivery, the repair man, a question... anyone who needs a respite. We can't chill the water fast enough.

Though power supply is no longer solely in the government's hands and has been largely privatised, outages still happen.

The best hour of the day is at dawn, about 5am when the sun is a long way still from coming up. The temperature drops down to about 30C through the night.


Note: this image is a screenshot rather than a photo.