Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

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.

Poor workers bear the brunt of India's heatwave

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. 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.

Poor workers bear the brunt of India's heatwave

NOIDA, India - 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. Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change, and say more than a billion people in India and neighboring Pakistan were in some way at risk from the extreme heat 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. ALSO READ: India bans wheat exports as heatwave hurts crop "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 neighboring 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. ALSO READ: India: Temperatures break records as heat wave scorches region 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, laborers 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. READ MORE: Indian heat wave disrupts industries as power demand soars "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

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. For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of theIndian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable. VDO.AI 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. 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 the brunt of India's heatwave

PM Narendra Modi has called on state governments to draw up measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat 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. 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.

Unbearable to the heat, poor workers in India

A man drinks water from a bottle on a hot summer day in Allahabad on April 30, 2022. SANJAY KANOJIA AFP NOIDA, India -- For 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. The country's vast majority of poor workers, who generally work outdoors, are vulnerable to the scorching temperatures as India struggles with an unprecedented heat wave. There is too much heat and if we don't work, what will we eat? Tundre said that we work for a few days and then sit idle for a few days because of tiredness and heat. The temperatures in the New Delhi area have touched 45 degrees Celsius 113 Fahrenheit this year, which often causes Tundre, and his wife Lata, who works at the same construction site to fall sick. Sometimes I don't go to work because of the heat. Many times, they fall sick from dehydration and then require intravenous fluids, Lata said, while standing outside their house, a temporary shanty with a tin roof. Scientists say that more than a billion people in India and neighboring Pakistan are at risk from the extreme heat and that the early onset of an intense summer is linked to climate change. India suffered its hottest March in more than 100 years and parts of the country experienced its highest temperatures on record in April. New Delhi saw the temperature gauge above 40 degrees Celsius. Since March, more than two dozen people have died of suspected heat strokes, and power demand has hit multi-year highs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for measures to be drawn up by state governments to mitigate the effects of the extreme heat. Tundre and Lata live in a slum near the construction site in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi, with their two young children. They moved from their home state of Chhattisgarh in central India to seek work and higher wages around the capital. On the construction site, laborers scale up walls, lay concrete and carry heavy loads, using ragged scarves around their heads as protection against the sun. Even when the couple is busy with 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 that heat stress was the most common cause of death after lightning, from forces of nature in the last twenty years. Most of the deaths occur in men aged 30 -- 45. These are working class, blue-collar men who have no choice but to be working in the scorching heat, Somvanshi said. In India, there are no laws that prevent outdoor activity when temperatures breach a certain level, unlike in some Middle-Eastern countries, according to Somvanshi.

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, reports Reuters. "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.

Heatwave: How Delhi and Noida labourers working under sun in 50 degree temp

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. For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts 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. 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.

I lavoratori poveri sopportano il peso maggiore dell’ondata di caldo in India

NOIDA, India (Reuters) – Per l’operaio edile Yogendra Tundri, la vita in un cantiere alla periferia della capitale dell’India, New Delhi, è già abbastanza dura. Quest’anno le alte temperature da record lo rendono insopportabile. Mentre l’India è alle prese con un’ondata di caldo senza precedenti, la stragrande maggioranza dei lavoratori poveri del paese, che generalmente lavorano all’aperto, sono esposti a temperature torride. “C’è molto caldo e se non lavoriamo, cosa mangeremo? Per alcuni giorni lavoriamo e poi rimaniamo senza lavoro per alcuni giorni a causa della fatica e del caldo”, ha detto Tendre. Registrati ora per ottenere l’accesso illimitato e gratuito a Reuters.com Le temperature nell’area di Nuova Delhi quest’anno hanno raggiunto i 45 gradi Celsius (113 Fahrenheit), causando spesso malattie a Tendri e sua moglie Lata, che lavora nello stesso cantiere. Questo a sua volta significa che perdono reddito. È probabile che la forte ondata di caldo vedrà alcune parti di Delhi vedere temperature a nord di 120 gradi Fahrenheit lunedì, secondo il Dipartimento meteorologico indiano (IMD). ha detto Lata mentre si trovava fuori dalla loro casa, una baracca improvvisata con il tetto di lamiera. Gli scienziati hanno collegato l’inizio anticipato di un’estate soffocante al cambiamento climatico e affermano che più di un miliardo di persone nei vicini India e Pakistan sono in qualche modo a rischio a causa del caldo estremo. L’India ha subito il suo marzo più caldo in più di 100 anni e parti del paese hanno registrato le temperature più alte di sempre ad aprile. I lavoratori lavorano in un cantiere in una calda giornata estiva a Noida, India, 12 maggio 2022. REUTERS/Anushri Fadnavis READ La suora francese vivente più antica del mondo ama il cioccolato e il vino Molti luoghi, tra cui New Delhi, hanno visto la scala della temperatura superiore a 40 gradi Celsius. Più di due dozzine di persone sono morte per sospetto colpo di calore dalla fine di marzo e la domanda di elettricità è al livello più alto da diversi anni. Il primo ministro Narendra Modi ha invitato i governi statali a mettere in atto misure per mitigare l’impatto del caldo estremo. Leggi di più Tendri e Laata vivono con i loro due figli piccoli in una baraccopoli vicino al cantiere di Noida, città di New Delhi. Si sono trasferiti dal loro stato natale di Chhattisgarh nell’India centrale per cercare lavoro e salari più alti nella capitale. In cantiere, i lavoratori scalano muri, posano cemento e trasportano carichi pesanti, usando sciarpe sbrindellate intorno alla testa come protezione dal sole. Ma anche quando la coppia finisce il lavoro quotidiano, non si riposano abbastanza perché la loro casa è calda, avendo preso il calore del sole tutto il giorno. I dati del governo federale hanno mostrato che lo stress da caldo è stata la causa più comune di morte, dopo un fulmine, da forze della natura negli ultimi 20 anni, ha affermato Avikal Somvanshi, ricercatore dell’ambiente urbano del Center for Science and Environment in India. “La maggior parte di queste morti si verifica tra uomini di età compresa tra i 30 ei 45 anni. Questi sono uomini della classe operaia, colletti blu che non hanno altra scelta che lavorare nel caldo soffocante”, ha detto Somfanci. Somvanshi ha affermato che non ci sono leggi in India che vietino l’attività all’aperto quando le temperature superano un certo livello, a differenza di alcuni paesi del Medio Oriente.

空前熱浪侵襲 印度貧窮工人深受其苦

路透社今天(16日)報導，印度近日面臨前所未見的熱浪侵襲，而那些在戶外工作的工人最容易受到酷熱天氣的影響。 對於建築工人坦度(Yogendra Tundre)來說，在印度首都新德里(New Delhi)郊區的建築工地工作已經夠辛苦的了，而在今年，創紀錄的高溫更令人難以忍受。 在印度應對這波前所未有的熱浪之際，該國絕大多數通常在戶外工作的貧窮工人，最容易受到酷熱天氣的影響。 坦度說，「天氣太熱了，但如果我們不工作，我們要吃什麼？已經好幾天，我們工作了幾天，接著因為疲倦和酷熱而有好幾天什麼都不能做。」 今年在新德里地區的氣溫已達到攝氏45度，酷熱的天氣導致坦度，以及與他在同一個建築工地工作的妻子拉塔(Lata)常常生病。這意味著，他們也失去了收入。 據印度氣象部門(IMD)，無情的熱浪可能導致德里部分地區今天的氣溫飆破攝氏48度。 拉塔站在他們簡陋小屋的家門外說，「因為天氣太熱，有時我沒有去上班。我請了幾天假……之前很常因為脫水生病，然後需要吊點滴注射葡萄糖液。」 科學家指出，炎熱夏季的提前到來與氣候變遷有關，並表示，印度和鄰國巴基斯坦境內有超過10億人，在某種程度上，處於極端高溫的危險之中。 印度今年經歷了100多年來最熱的3月，此外，在該國部分地區，曾在4月間記錄到有紀錄以來的最高氣溫。 包括新德里在內的許多地方，近日氣溫都飆破攝氏40度。印度自3月下旬以來，已有數十人死於疑似中暑，電力需求並達到多年的新高。 總理莫迪(Narendra Modi)已經要求各省政府擬定計畫，以應對酷熱的氣溫所帶來的影響。 印度科學與環境中心(Centre for Science and Environment)的城市環境研究員桑萬西(Avikal Somvanshi)表示，印度聯邦政府的數據顯示，在過去20年中，中暑與熱衰竭等熱壓力(heat stress)症狀，是人們繼雷擊之後最常見的死因。 桑萬西說，「這些死亡案例大多數發生在30至45歲的男性身上。這些是勞工階層、藍領男性，他們別無選擇，只能在酷熱下工作。」 桑萬西補充說，與部分中東國家不同，印度法律沒有明文規定，當氣溫超過一定水平時禁止進行戶外活動。