Summer Misery: Why is it so hot in Delhi? Is climate change making heatwaves worse?

Delhi is reeling from an intense heatwave. The National Capital is grappling with scorching temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius. The city will be going to vote on 25 May amid this extreme heat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ for Delhi for the rest of the week. Experts say climate change is making the situation worse.

Let’s take a closer look.

‘Red alert’ in Delhi

Several states and Union Territories in north India, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and west Uttar Pradesh are under ‘red alert’ over the next four days. Daytime temperatures are expected to soar over 47 degrees Celsius in these places.

Last Sunday, temperatures reached 47.8 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh, an area on the outskirts of the city. This was the highest in India this summer.

Voters will be exercising their franchise amid such blistering temperatures on Saturday. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which will grapple with heatwaves this week, will also be polling in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Last month, the weather office had predicted that heatwaves lasting 10 to 20 days, unlike the normal four to eight days, are expected between April and June this year.

Delhi grapples with extreme heat

Schools have been shut in Delhi amid the soaring temperatures.

While the IMD recommends staying indoors, outdoor workers such as labourers and gig employees are bearing the brunt of the extreme heat.

Suman Mandal, a construction worker in southeast Delhi’s Sewa Nagar, told PTI, “It is very difficult to work in this heat. But I cannot skip work or I will lose income.”

Speaking to Reuters, Banwari Singh, who is working on a highway project in Najafgarh, said he and other labourers are worried about getting sick in this extreme heat.

Singh, who earns between Rs 500-700 daily, says they have “no option” but to work in this excruciating heat. “If we want to eat, we have to work whatever the conditions are,” the 40-year-old said.

A gig worker in south Delhi who delivers food told PTI that the heat is slowing him down. “I take a break and drink water every 30 minutes, otherwise I will faint or drop dead.”

Satish Kumar, a 57-year-old rickshaw driver in the city, also lamented about his work being affected due to intense heat. “People are not coming outside, [markets] are nearly empty,” he was quoted as saying by Associated Press (AP).

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Impact of climate change on heatwave

Experts blame climate change for fuelling the heat and making heatwaves last longer, more acute and more frequent.

Heat has become more severe in the past decade. According to a study by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines the source of extreme heat, the blistering heatwave that hit parts of Asia in April was 45 times more likely owing to climate change.

The study also blamed climate change for making temperatures 0.85 degrees Celsius hotter in the continent.

Anna Walnycki, a principal researcher on the International Institute for Environment and Development’s (IIED) human settlements team, said the extreme heat is having a notable impact on people’s health, well-being and productivity, especially those living in low-income and informal communities.

“Low-income households have limited capacity to adapt to extreme heat because of poor access to water and electricity. In addition, the design and construction of informal houses often means there is poor ventilation and little shelter from extreme heat,” she told PTI.

Extreme heat led to the death of 150 people in India last year. According to the government estimates, almost 11,000 people have died during heatwaves this century, however, experts say this figure is likely much more, reported AP.

An alarming analysis by IIED shows that Delhi recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above on more than 150 days in eight of the last 10 years.

How to remain safe?

The IMD has warned of the impact of intense heat on vulnerable populations, including infants, elderly people and those with chronic diseases. It has recommended “extreme care for vulnerable people".

IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy has asked people to avoid going outside during the afternoon. She told AP that people should drink lots of water and wear loose-fitting clothes in this weather.

The risk of heat strokes and other heat-related illnesses increases amid high temperatures.

As Delhi goes to polls, the Election Commission (EC) has assured it has made necessary arrangements to beat the heat and ensure smooth polling. As per the poll body, air-coolers, drinking water and shaded waiting areas will be available at all the polling stations, along with medical assistants.

“IMD has predicted that heatwave is likely to be more intense. We have asked our field officers to set up coolers, fans, and cold drinking water facilities at the polling station,” Delhi Chief Electoral Officer P Krishnamurthy said, as per NDTV.

With inputs from agencies