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Arme Arbeiter tragen die Hauptlast der Hitzewelle in Indien

Für den Bauarbeiter Yogendra Tundri ist das Leben auf einer Baustelle am Rande der indischen Hauptstadt Neu-Delhi schon hart genug. In diesem Jahr machen Rekordtemperaturen es unerträglich. Während Indien mit einer beispiellosen Hitzewelle zu kämpfen hat, ist die überwiegende Mehrheit der armen Arbeiter des Landes, die im Allgemeinen im Freien arbeiten, sengenden Temperaturen ausgesetzt. „Es ist sehr heiß und wenn wir nicht arbeiten, was essen wir dann? Ein paar Tage arbeiten wir und dann sitzen wir wegen der Müdigkeit und der Hitze ein paar Tage ohne Arbeit“, sagte Tendre. Registrieren Sie sich jetzt, um kostenlosen und unbegrenzten Zugriff auf Reuters.com zu erhalten Die Temperaturen in der Gegend von Neu-Delhi haben dieses Jahr 45 Grad Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) erreicht, was häufig dazu führt, dass Tendri und seine Frau Lata, die auf derselben Baustelle arbeitet, krank werden. Dies wiederum bedeutet, dass sie Einkommen verlieren. Die schwere Hitzewelle wird nach Angaben des Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) wahrscheinlich dazu führen, dass einige Teile von Delhi am Montag Temperaturen nördlich von 120 Grad Fahrenheit haben. sagte Lata, während sie vor ihrem Haus stand, einer provisorischen Hütte mit einem Blechdach. Wissenschaftler haben den frühen Beginn eines schwülen Sommers mit dem Klimawandel in Verbindung gebracht und sagen, dass mehr als eine Milliarde Menschen im benachbarten Indien und Pakistan irgendwie durch die extreme Hitze gefährdet sind. Indien erlebte den wärmsten März seit mehr als 100 Jahren und Teile des Landes erlebten im April die höchsten Temperaturen aller Zeiten. Arbeiter arbeiten an einem heißen Sommertag auf einer Baustelle in Noida, Indien, 12. Mai 2022. REUTERS/Anushri Fadnavis Siehe auch Shanghai Lockdown wegen Coronavirus: Nahrungsmittelknappheit, Drohnen, hungrige Tiere Viele Orte, einschließlich Neu-Delhi, haben die Temperaturskala über 40 Grad Celsius gesehen. Mehr als zwei Dutzend Menschen sind seit Ende März an einem vermuteten Hitzschlag gestorben, und die Stromnachfrage ist auf dem höchsten Stand seit mehreren Jahren. Premierminister Narendra Modi hat die Regierungen der Bundesstaaten aufgefordert, Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um die Auswirkungen der extremen Hitze abzumildern. Weiterlesen Tendri und Laata leben mit ihren beiden kleinen Kindern in einem Slum nahe der Baustelle in Noida, einer zu Neu-Delhi gehörenden Stadt. Sie zogen aus ihrem Heimatstaat Chhattisgarh in Zentralindien, um in der Hauptstadt nach Arbeit und höheren Löhnen zu suchen. Auf der Baustelle erklimmen Arbeiter Mauern, betonieren und tragen schwere Lasten, tragen zerfetzte Schals um den Kopf als Schutz vor der Sonne. Aber selbst wenn das Paar seine tägliche Arbeit beendet, finden sie nicht genug Ruhe, weil ihr Haus heiß ist, nachdem sie den ganzen Tag die Hitze der Sonne aufgesogen haben. Daten der Bundesregierung zeigten, dass Hitzestress in den letzten 20 Jahren nach Blitzschlag die häufigste Todesursache durch Naturgewalten war, sagte Avikal Somvanshi, ein Forscher für städtische Umwelt vom Center for Science and Environment in Indien. „Die meisten dieser Todesfälle ereignen sich bei Männern im Alter zwischen 30 und 45 Jahren. Dies sind Arbeiter aus der Arbeiterklasse, die keine andere Wahl haben, als in der brütenden Hitze zu arbeiten“, sagte Somfanci. Somvanshi sagte, dass es in Indien keine Gesetze gibt, die Aktivitäten im Freien verbieten, wenn die Temperaturen ein bestimmtes Niveau überschreiten, anders als in einigen Ländern des Nahen Ostens.

Insoportable el calor, pobres trabajadores en India

A un hombre toma agua de una bottle en un verano frío en Allahabad en 2022. SanJAY KanoJIA AFP NOIDA, India -- Para Yogendra Tundre, la vida en un edificio en las afueras de la capital india New Delhi es duro. Este año, las temperaturas recordadas se han convertido en un hecho inaceptable. La mayoría de los trabajadores pobres, que generalmente trabajan en el exterior, están siendo vulnerables a las intensas temperaturas que afectan al país en medio de una nueva ola de calor. Es muy poco calor y si no trabajamos, ¿qué comenzaremos? Tundre dijo que trabajamos por unos días y después sitúamos idle. La temperatura en la ciudad de New Delhi ha alcanzado 45 degrees Celsius 113 Fahrenheit este año, que frecuentemente causa Tundre y su esposa Lata, quienes trabajan en el mismo sitio de construction. Mucha vez no voy a trabajar porque el calor. En algunos casos, los enfermos se enferman de dehydratación y necesitan fluidos intravenosos, dijo Lata, después de salir de su casa, una shanta temporal con un roof. Los científicos aseguran que más de un millón de personas en India y en Pakistán están a riesgo de sufrir una ola extrema de calor e incluso que el comienzo del verano intenso es vinculado al cambio climático. India sufrió su peor marzo en más de 100 años y partes del país sufrieron las temperaturas más altas en abril. New Delhi observó la temperatura más alta de 40 degrees Celsius. Desde el mes de marzo, más de dos dozen personas han muerto de las strokes de calor, y la demanda de electricidad ha caído multimillonarios. El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de India, Narendra Modi, ha pedido a los gobiernos estadounidenses que adopten medidas para mitigar los efectos de la ola extrema. Tundre y Lata viven en una slum cerca del sitio de construcción en Noida, una ciudad satelital de New Delhi. Los habitantes del estado de Chhattisgarh en el centro de India se mudaron a su estado natal para buscar trabajo y mejores salarios. En el lugar de construcción, los trabajadores escalan las paredes y llevan cargas de gran escala, usando rasgos abiertos en sus cabezas para protegerse contra el sol. En caso de que la familia está trabajando con su trabajo, tienen poco respite como su casa es fría, absorbiendo la temperatura de la noche al día largo. Avikal Somvanshi, un científico urbano de India"s Centre para la Ciencia y el Ambiente, dijo que el frío es la causa más común de muerte después de la luz, de las fuerzas naturales. La mayoría de las muertes ocurren en menores de 30 - 45-. Estos son trabajadores negros que no tienen ninguna opción para trabajar en el calor. En India, no existen leyes que protegen la actividad outdoor cuando las temperaturas alcanzan un cierto nivel, como en algunos países Middle East, según Somvanshi.

Les travailleurs pauvres portent le poids de la canicule en Inde | Nouvelles du monde

Pour l’ouvrier du bâtiment Yogendra Tundre, la vie sur un chantier de construction à la périphérie de la capitale indienne New Delhi est déjà assez difficile. Cette année, les températures record la rendent insupportable. Alors que l’Inde est aux prises avec une vague de chaleur sans précédent, la grande majorité des travailleurs pauvres du pays, qui travaillent généralement à l’extérieur, sont vulnérables aux températures torrides. « Il y a trop de chaleur et si nous ne travaillons pas, que mangerons-nous ? Pendant quelques jours, nous travaillons, puis nous restons inactifs pendant quelques jours à cause de la fatigue et de la chaleur », a déclaré Tundre. Les températures dans la région de New Delhi ont atteint 45 degrés Celsius (113 degrés Fahrenheit) cette année, provoquant souvent la maladie de Tundre et de sa femme Lata, qui travaille sur le même chantier de construction. Cela signifie à son tour qu’ils perdent des revenus. Caricatures politiques sur les dirigeants mondiaux « À cause de la chaleur, parfois je ne vais pas au travail. Je prends des jours de congé… plusieurs fois, je tombe malade de déshydratation et j’ai ensuite besoin de bouteilles de glucose (liquides intraveineux) », a déclaré Lata alors qu’elle se tenait devant leur maison, un bidonville temporaire. avec un toit en tôle. Les scientifiques ont établi un lien entre le début précoce d’un été intense et le changement climatique, et affirment que plus d’un milliard de personnes en Inde et au Pakistan voisin étaient d’une manière ou d’une autre menacées par la chaleur extrême. L’Inde a connu son mois de mars le plus chaud depuis plus de 100 ans et certaines parties du pays ont connu leurs températures les plus élevées jamais enregistrées en avril. De nombreux endroits, dont New Delhi, ont vu l’indicateur de température dépasser les 40 degrés Celsius. Plus de deux douzaines de personnes sont mortes de coups de chaleur présumés depuis fin mars, et la demande d’électricité a atteint des sommets pluriannuels. Le Premier ministre Narendra Modi a appelé les gouvernements des États à élaborer des mesures pour atténuer l’impact de la chaleur extrême. Tundre et Lata vivent avec leurs deux jeunes enfants dans un bidonville près du chantier de Noida, une ville satellite de New Delhi. Ils ont quitté leur État d’origine, le Chhattisgarh, dans le centre de l’Inde, pour chercher du travail et des salaires plus élevés dans la capitale. Sur le chantier, les ouvriers escaladent les murs, posent du béton et portent de lourdes charges, en utilisant des écharpes en lambeaux autour de la tête pour se protéger du soleil. Mais même lorsque le couple termine sa journée de travail, ils n’ont que peu de répit car leur maison est chaude, ayant absorbé la chaleur du soleil toute la journée. Avikal Somvanshi, chercheur en environnement urbain au Centre indien pour la science et l’environnement, a déclaré que les données du gouvernement fédéral montraient que le stress thermique était la cause la plus courante de décès, après la foudre, due aux forces de la nature au cours des vingt dernières années. « La plupart de ces décès surviennent chez des hommes âgés de 30 à 45 ans. Ce sont des hommes de la classe ouvrière, des cols bleus qui n’ont d’autre choix que de travailler sous une chaleur torride », a déclaré Somvanshi. Il n’y a pas de lois en Inde qui interdisent les activités de plein air lorsque les températures dépassent un certain niveau, contrairement à certains pays du Moyen-Orient, a déclaré Somvanshi. (Reportage de Sunil Kataria à New Delhi; écrit par Shilpa Jamkhandikar; édité par Neil Fullick.)

Heatwave singes labourers: 'If we won't work, what will we eat?'

Scientists have linked the early onset of intense summer to climate change, and say more than people in India and neighbouring Pakistan are at great risk <p>For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable.</p><div class="lhs_p2"><div id="ATD_DCH_300x250_S1_P2" yeti-found="true" data-google-query-id="CK_B4su14_cCFQEItwAdiBgA2g" style="width: 300px; height: 250px; margin: auto;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_1013527/ATD_dch/ATD_300x250_S1_P2_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; display: inline-block; width: 300px; height: 250px;"><iframe style="border: 0px none; vertical-align: bottom;" src="https://af173f2fe6fecb7bb8ee7601938f38d3.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html" id="google_ads_iframe_1013527/ATD_dch/ATD_300x250_S1_P2_0" title="3rd party ad content" name="" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" data-is-safeframe="true" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" role="region" aria-label="Advertisement" tabindex="0" data-google-container-id="5" data-load-complete="true" width="300" height="250" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><p>As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country's vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures.</p><p>"There is too much heat and if we won't work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat," Tundre said.<div class="ad-320-1023 inart2_processed" id="in-article3-1"></div></p><div id="outstream_ad" style="background-color: transparent;" align="center"></div><p>Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income.</p><p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/severe-heatwave-warning-for-parts-of-delhi-1109142.html" target="_blank">Severe heatwave warning for parts of Delhi</a></strong></p><p>"Because of heat, sometimes I don't go to work. I take days off... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids)," Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof.</p><p>Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat.</p><p>India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April.</p><p>Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 degrees Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs.</p><p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat.</p><p>Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital.</p><p>On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun.</p><p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/a-blueprint-for-meeting-heatwave-challenges-1108549.html" target="_blank">A blueprint for meeting heatwave challenges</a></strong></p><p>But even when the couple finish their day's work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long.</p><p>Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India's Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years.</p><p>"Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat," Somvanshi said.</p><p>There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.</p>

Delhi sizzles at 49C as heatwave sweeps India

An intense heatwave has been sweeping through northern Indian with temperature hitting a record 49.2C in parts of the capital, Delhi. Reports say this is the fifth spell of a heatwave in the capital this summer. Officials in many parts of the country have asked people to take precaution. They warned the heat could cause moderate health concerns for the vulnerable, including infants, the elderly and people with chronic diseases. The states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Bihar have particularly witnessed soaring temperatures in the past few days, India's weather department said. It added that temperatures are likely to fall by 2-4C in some areas but there may not be any respite from intense heat. Severe heatwaves have thrown millions of lives and livelihoods out of gear in northern India this summer. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked state chief ministers to draw up plans to mitigate the impact of extreme heat as temperatures rose faster than usual. While heatwaves are common in India, especially in May and June, summer began early this year with high temperatures from March itself - average maximum temperatures in the month were the highest in 122 years. Heatwaves also began setting in during the month. The Centre for Science and Environment, a think-tank, says that early heatwaves this year have affected around 15 states, including the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, known for its pleasant temperatures. Naresh Kumar, a senior scientist at IMD, attributes the current heatwave to local atmospheric factors. The major one was weak western disturbances - storms originating in the Mediterranean region - which meant little pre-monsoon rainfall in north-western and central India. Anticyclones - an area of high atmospheric pressure where the air sinks - also led to hot, dry weather over parts of western India in March. The effects are visible. Farmers say the unexpected temperature spikes have affected their wheat harvest, a development that could potentially have global consequences given supply disruptions due to the Ukraine war. The heat has also triggered an increase in power demand, leading to outages in many states and fears of a coal shortage. Mr Modi also flagged the increased risk of fires due to rising temperatures. Summers have always been gruelling in many parts of India - especially in the northern and central regions. Even before air-conditioners and water coolers started selling in the millions, people had devised their own ways of coping with the heat - from keeping water cool in earthen jugs to rubbing raw mangoes on their bodies to ward off heat strokes. But many experts say India is now recording more intense, frequent heatwaves that are also longer in duration. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, agrees that several atmospheric factors have led to the current heatwave. But adding to all that, he says, is global warming. "That's the root cause for the increase in heatwaves," he says, adding that more research is needed to link climate change to other, less extreme weather fluctuations. D Sivananda Pai, director of the Institute for Climate Change Studies, points to other challenges too, apart from climate change - such as increasing population and the resultant strain on resources. This, in turn, leads to factors that worsen the situation, such as deforestation and increasing use of transport. "When you have more concrete roads and buildings, heat is trapped inside without being able to rise to the surface. This warms the air further," Mr Pai says. And the cost of such extreme weather events is disproportionately borne by the poor. "Poor people have fewer resources to cool down as well as fewer options to stay inside, away from the heat," says Dr Chandni Singh, senior researcher at Indian Institute for Human Settlements and a lead author at Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). While more attention is paid to mortality due to heatwaves, Ms Singh says policymakers should also focus on how extreme weather affects the quality of people's lives. "Heatwaves can have serious health consequences. If temperatures are high even at night, the body doesn't get a chance to recuperate, increasing the possibility of illnesses and higher medical bills," she says. A "long-term vision", Mr Koll says, is essential when planning for the future. "There are places in India where the temperature itself may not be that high, but when combined with high humidity, life can be very difficult," he says, referring to the need to take into account the wet-bulb temperature - a scientific measure of when heat and humidity combine. He also emphasises on paying attention to areas away from the spotlight. "Many children in rural areas attend schools in sheds with tin roofs, which would be unbearable in the heat," he says. Since 2015, both the federal and state governments have issued a number of measures to mitigate the effects of heatwaves, such as banning working outside during the hottest hours and issuing timely advisories. But these can only be completely effective if accompanied by big-picture changes such as an overhaul of labour laws and greening cities, Ms Singh says. "Our buildings are made in such a way that they trap heat instead of ensuring ventilation. There is so much innovation internationally that we can learn from," she says. "We are doing some things right but it's time to up our game - because we have to live with the heat."

Poor workers bear the brunt of India's heatwave

NOIDA, India (Reuters) - For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country's vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. "There is too much heat and if we won't work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat," Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. "Because of heat, sometimes I don't go to work. I take days off... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids)," Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 degrees Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. But even when the couple finish their day's work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India's Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years. "Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat," Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.

"If We Won't Work, What Will We Eat?": Poor Bear Brunt Of Heatwave

As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country's vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. "There is too much heat and if we won't work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat," Mr Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Mr Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. "Because of heat, sometimes I don't go to work. I take days off... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids)," Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 degrees Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Mr Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. Even when the couple finish their day's work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from Centre for Science and Environment, said government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years. "Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat," Mr Somvanshi said.

"If We Won't Work, What Will We Eat?": Poor Bear Brunt Of Heatwave

As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country's vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. "There is too much heat and if we won't work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat," Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. "Because of heat, sometimes I don't go to work. I take days off... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids)," Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 degrees Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. Even when the couple finish their day's work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from Centre for Science and Environment, said government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years. "Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat," Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.

Delhi Simmered At 49 Degrees On Sunday. Will There Be A Respite?

On Sunday, mercury soared the 49 degrees-mark in Najafgarh and Mungeshpur. Similarly, Gurgaon logged a high of 48 degrees, highest since 1966. Delhi, including other parts of north India, is reeling under intense heatwave for the past few days. The temperatures in some parts of the national capital soared to 49 degree Celsius on Sunday, nine degrees above normal and recorded as the hottest day of the season so far. On Sunday, mercury soared to the 49 degrees-mark in Najafgarh and Mungeshpur. Similarly, Gurgaon logged at a high of 48 degrees, highest since 1966. While temperatures soared through the weekend, heat wave conditions are likely to ebb from today, according to the IMD. "Heat wave conditions likely to continue over Northwest & Central India today and decrease in intensity & distribution from tomorrow," IMD said in a tweet on Sunday. From May 17, there is no heatwave predicted, while thunderstorms over some places are expected to bring respite. "There will be good cloud cover in North Rajasthan, Punjab & Haryana" RK Jenamani, senior scientist, at IMD has said. Why is Delhi witnessing repeated heatwaves? Scanty rainfall is being attributed to five heatwaves that Delhi recorded since March this year. In April, Delhi recorded an mean temperature of 40.2 degrees, making it the second hottest April since 1951. "We have seen western disturbances in March, April and May, but none strong enough to bring substantial rainfall. Most either led to cloudy skies or stronger winds, which can push the maximum temperature by a degree or two, but cannot provide relief," RK Jenamani, scientist at IMD (India Meteorological Department), was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. In April and May, Delhi witnessed only two days of rain, one on April 21 (0.3mm) and May 4 (1.44mm). Other parts of north India that are reeling under scorching heat include Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Bihar. Are heatwaves common in India? The Indian plains are known for hot and dry summers, accompanied with incidents of heatwaves as well. However, this year, the heatwaves, which are expected during May and June, set in early. First heatwave was recorded on March 11. According to Down To Earth, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are some of the states to be hit hard by the heatwave. By April 24, these two states had 25 heatwave and severe heatwave days. What is a heatwave? According to experts, when the temperature in plains crosses 40 degree Celsius, 37 degrees in coastal areas, 30 degrees in mountains, it is called a heatwave. "The IMD declares a heat wave when a place registers a temperature that is 4.5 to 6.4 degree Celsius more than the normal temperature for the region on that day. If the temperature is over 6.4 degrees more than the normal, the IMD declares a 'severe' heat wave," the Centre for Science and Environment said in a report. Heatwave in other countries Like India, neighbouring Pakistan too is reeling under heatwave, since the two countries share geographic similarities. More than a billion people in the densely populated region are facing temperatures above 40 degrees. Power outages triggered by coal shortage and immense pressure on the supply lines has only added to the woes of the people. Crop failures are hinting that the worst is yet to come. The hottest April on record is bound to impact the crops, impacting food security as well as livelihood. Is there a respite? According to a report in The Conversation, more intense heatwaves are on the anvil for India. "Assuming the statistical distribution of daily maximum temperatures is broadly the same across the world, statistically a record-breaking heatwave is likely to occur in India at some point. The region has not yet had reason to adapt to such temperatures, so may be particularly vulnerable," the report said.

A day in the life of a construction worker amid India's heatwave

As the sun rose over another day on the outskirts of the Indian capital of New Delhi, construction worker Yogendra Tundre squatted beside a tap for a shower before heading to work. Life at a building site is laborious and hard enough, but 29-year-old Tundre now has to contend with an unprecedented heatwave and record high temperatures. "There is too much heat and if we don't work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat," Tundre said. Temperatures in New Delhi have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. "Because of the heat, sometimes I don't go to work. I take days off. Many times I fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles [intravenous fluids],” Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years. April saw many places, including New Delhi, record unusually high temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius on most days. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat stroke since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Tundre and Lata live with their two young children near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages in Delhi, leaving their eldest son in the care of his maternal grandparents. On the construction site, labourers of both genders carry heavy loads, scale-up walls and lay concrete. "All of us are working under the scorching sun in such heat. One will fall ill and then has to run for the doctor, and the doctors will charge 500 rupees [about THB200] when they could have done with just 200 rupees," said Sikandar Miyan, a construction worker using a ragged scarf around his head as protection against the sun. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India's Centre for Science and Environment, said government data showed that heat stress was the most common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last 20 years. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures reach a certain level, unlike in some Middle Eastern countries, Somvanshi added. Even when Tundre and Lata finish their day's work, they have a little respite from the heat, as their home has absorbed heat all day long. "It is very hot here. How can one live peacefully?" questioned Tundre, after a simple dinner prepared by Lata over an earthen oven. "There is no resting here," he added wistfully, beneath a half-moon in the sky.

Poor workers bear the brunt of India's heatwave

NOIDA, India (Reuters) -For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country’s vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. “There is too much heat and if we won’t work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat,” Tundre said. High temperatures in the New Delhi area, which soared above 120 Fahrenheit (49 Celsius) in some regions on Sunday, have often caused Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. “Because of heat, sometimes I don’t go to work. I take days off ... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids),” Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan are in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Temperatures in and around New Delhi are likely to be lower over the next three days, but the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a heatwave again on Friday. Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. But even when the couple finish their day’s work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India’s Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last 20 years. “Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat,” Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.

‘No option’: Poor workers struggle amid India’s brutal heatwave

A vast majority of daily wage workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site in Noida, a satellite city of the Indian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country’s vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. “There is too much heat and if we won’t work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat,” Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. The relentless heatwave is likely to result in some parts of New Delhi experiencing temperatures north of 120 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). “Because of heat, sometimes I don’t go to work. I take days off… many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids),” Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan are in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge climb past 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. India workers and heatwave Labourers work at a construction site on a hot summer day in Noida, India [Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters] Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. Sign up here to get weekly updates about our Top Stories Please check your email to confirm your subscription By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy On the construction site, labourers scale the walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, with only ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. But even when the couple finishes their day’s work, they have little respite as they return to their hot home, which has absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Video Duration 02 minutes 03 seconds 02:03 Record-breaking heatwave grips India Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India’s Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last 20 years. “Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30 to 45. These are working-class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat,” Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures surpass a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.

Poor workers bear the brunt of India's heatwave

For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country's vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. "There is too much heat and if we won't work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat," Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. The relentless heatwave is likely to result in some parts of Delhi experiencing temperatures north of 120 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). "Because of heat, sometimes I don't go to work. I take days off ... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids)," Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan are in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 degrees Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Read full storyRead full story Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. But even when the couple finish their day's work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India's Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last 20 years. "Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat," Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.

Poor workers bear brunt of India’s heatwave

NOIDA: For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. ADVERTISEMENT As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country’s vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. “There is too much heat and if we won’t work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat,” Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45°C this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. “Because of heat, sometimes I don’t go to work. I take days off ... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids),” Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40°C. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. ADVERTISEMENT Prime minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. But even when the couple finish their day’s work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India’s Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years. “Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30 to 45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat,” Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said. - Reuters

Poor workers bear the brunt of India's heatwave

As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country's vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. "There is too much heat and if we won't work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat," Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. "Because of heat, sometimes I don't go to work. I take days off... many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids)," Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 degrees Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. But even when the couple finish their day's work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India's Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years. "Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat," Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.

Poor workers bear the brunt of India’s heatwave

More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs Federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years “Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat,” Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India’s Centre for Science and Environment, said For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. As India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave, the country’s vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures. “There is too much heat and if we won’t work, what will we eat? For a few days, we work and then we sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat,” Tundre said. Temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this year, often causing Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site, to fall sick. That in turn means they lose income. “Because of heat, sometimes I don’t go to work. I take days off… many times, fall sick from dehydration and then require glucose bottles (intravenous fluids),” Lata said while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighbouring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced their highest temperatures on record in April. Many places, including New Delhi, saw the temperature gauge top 40 degrees Celsius. More than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes since late March, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat. Tundre and Lata live with their two young children in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, labourers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. But even when the couple finish their day’s work, they have little respite as their home is hot, having absorbed the heat of the sun all day long. Avikal Somvanshi, an urban environment researcher from India’s Centre for Science and Environment, said federal government data showed that heat stress was the most-common cause of death, after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years. “Most of these deaths occur in men aged 30-45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no option but to be working in the scorching heat,” Somvanshi said. There are no laws in India that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, Somvanshi said.