Extreme Heat Concerns

Response 1 – Sourabh "I live in Aundh. This summer is very hot. Even mornings feel like an oven. I feel tired by afternoon at work. One day the power went off and it was unbearable. To deal with the heat, I drink lots of water and buttermilk. I stay inside with AC and go out only early morning or evening." Response 2 – Madhavi "I live in Kothrud and have a 9-5 job. This summer is extremely hot. Travelling to office is very difficult. I feel sweaty and tired all the time. To deal with the heat, I carry water bottle, wear cotton clothes, and take cold showers after work. I also eat more watermelon and cucumber." Response 3 – Abhishek "I live in Yerwada and work night shift. This summer is very bad. Daytime sleeping is hard because of the heat. I get headaches often. To deal with it, I use a cooler, put wet cloth on head, and drink lots of cold water at work. I take breaks in AC areas of the mall."

— Prayag Gaikwad · Pune, Maharashtra

The summer has been very difficult to handle. As I usually sweat a lot. I have extensively started using AC. Something I need to travel during the day with in hot summer. I got dehydrated a lot. I just started drinking more water. Had lot of watermons. Lemon juice. Bathed twice if needed

— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

I spend most of my time at home these days, but even indoors I have felt that this summer was unusually hot. Earlier, mornings and evenings used to be pleasant, but now the heat seems to continue well into the night. At my age, hot weather can be uncomfortable and sometimes affects sleep. I avoid going outside during the afternoon and keep the curtains closed on the side where the sunlight enters directly. I drink plenty of water, tender coconut water when available, and eat lighter meals. This also causes weight loss because sometimes I cannot eat because of the heat, which becomes difficult to manage. Every year the summers seem to become a little harsher. Many elderly people may find it difficult to cope if this trend continues.

— Sanjukta Chanda · Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu

This summer has been really tough in the afternoons. My house gets extremely hot. We often have power cuts which makes it hard to use fans or coolers. I drink buttermilk and coconut water to stay cool. I keep the windows open for air to come in. But in the afternoon the air was also hot. My kids often get headaches and dehydration. Feel tired after playing outside. We try to avoid going out when the sun's, at its peak level. The fact that there are not trees and green spaces around here makes the heat feel even worse. It is uncomfortable for my children to play outside. They get tired very quickly. I have to take care of them.

— Rohan Shinde · Boorakunte, Sarjapura, Bengaluru Urban

I think this summer was much hotter than previous years. During the afternoons, it became very difficult to keep my grocery shop open. The shop is small, and there is no fan to keep me cool. I carry a large water bottle and drink water frequently to avoid dehydration. Sometimes, I have to close my shop in the afternoon because of the extreme heat. I often feel tired and suffer from headaches due to the high temperatures. The heat has also affected my business, as very few customers come to the shop during the afternoon. Most people prefer to stay indoors until the weather becomes cooler.

— Rohan Shinde · Billapura, Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka

This summer has been quite difficult, especially because I spend a lot of time travelling between college, hospitals, and coaching classes. The heat feels much more intense than previous years. Even short walks in the afternoon can be exhausting. What I've noticed is that many people underestimate the effects of dehydration. In the hospital, we often see patients with dizziness, headaches, or heat-related illnesses. Personally, I carry a water bottle everywhere and try to drink fluids regularly, even when I'm not thirsty. I also avoid going out during peak afternoon hours whenever possible. The heat has definitely made studying and concentrating harder because it can be very draining physically.

— Sanjukta Chanda · Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu

Ajitpal Singh | 18 yrs. This summer was very hot, although, it is also accompanied by more rain than usual. The problem was that after the rain it would immediately return to the same level of heat. Because of extreme heat during afternoon, I avoid going out. My coaching time has also changed to evening. I wear a cold water soaked cloth will travelling on my two wheeler. At home, we are heavily dependent on AC. Other than that, my water and liquid intake has increased.

— Harmanjot Kaur · Rajgarh, Barnala, Punjab

Currently in Delhi the temperature on an average has been 40 degree celsuis. The air and the "wind" is also hot ( loo). I do not go out much during the day therefore. At home I am mostly under the Air Conditioner which keeps me cool. I hydrate myself as much as I can but because I have advised by my doctor to only drink 1L of fluids per day due to my health issues, it has been a tough summer. I get thirsty a lot due to this. I also sweat a lot so I need to be under the AC . I have been blessed that I have this facility.

— Zainab Rizwi · Cornwallis Colony, New Delhi, Unknown

This summer in Rourkela was very hot and humid. The temperature remained high during the day, making outdoor activities difficult. I tried to stay indoors during the afternoon, drank plenty of water, and consumed cooling drinks like lemon water and coconut water. I also wore light cotton clothes and used fans and coolers to stay comfortable.

— Anish Toppo · Rourkela, Sundargarh, Odisha

The city I live in had a lot of heat this year. In fact, it got very hot, which wasn't seen last year. There's nothing much to do in this heat. We just drink as much water and sherbet as we can and stay in AC. Our directly

— Urvashi Sriraman · Mugalivakkam, Chennai Corporation, Chennai

This summer has been tiring because I travel to different houses every day for work. Usually, I take public transport or walk short distances between places, and the heat has made that much harder. Sometimes by the time I reach the next house, I'm already sweating and feeling exhausted. Sometimes I cannot even carry food, and all my water finishes within a short time. Many households I work in also offer water or cold drinks, which makes a big difference. At home, we try to keep the doors and windows open during the evenings for airflow because running fans all day increases the electricity bill. For working people, this heat is not just uncomfortable—it affects our energy throughout the day

— Sanjukta Chanda · Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu

Response 1 - Farmer:This summer has been much hotter than usual. Working in the fields during the afternoon is difficult, so we start work early in the morning and finish before the heat becomes too strong. We drink plenty of water and buttermilk to stay hydrated.Response 2 – Homemaker:The heat inside the house has been uncomfortable, especially in the afternoons. We keep children indoors, drink more water, buttermilk, and tender coconut water, and use fans throughout the day. This summer feels hotter than previous years.Response 3 – Shopkeeper:Customer visits are lower during the afternoon because most people prefer to stay indoors. People usually come to the market in the morning or evening. Many customers say this has been one of the hottest summers in recent years.

— Devadharshini S · Kappalur, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

For people like us who work outdoors, this summer has been very challenging. Most of my work involves moving around the apartment complex, checking pumps, cleaning areas, and handling repairs. During the afternoon, the concrete and metal surfaces become extremely hot. By noon, you can feel the heat reflecting from the ground itself. We try to start some of the heavier work earlier in the morning before the sun becomes too strong. I drink a lot of water and buttermilk during the day and take short breaks in shaded areas whenever possible. The heat has definitely increased compared to what I remember from a few years ago.

— Sanjukta Chanda · Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu

This year, it was very hot in our village. Especially during the afternoon, the sun was very intense. Due to the heat, it became difficult to do household chores. There were also frequent power cuts in our village, which caused us a lot of trouble. Many wells in our village also dry up during the summers, so there's a big problem with water. Many times, we have to go far to fetch water. To stay cool, we used to drink cold water from earthen pots. We also had to do farm work only from 5 AM to 10 AM, as it wasn't possible to work in the intense afternoon sun. To keep the house a bit cool, we put tree branches on the roof. This reduces direct sunlight and makes the house feel a bit cooler. This is how we cope with the heat.

— Pragati Raut · Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra

This year our village experienced extreme heat. Especially during the afternoon, the sun was very strong. Due to the heat, it became difficult to do household chores. Power outages were also very frequent in our village, which caused us a lot of trouble. Many wells in our village also dry up in summer, so there is a big problem with water. Many times we have to go far for water. To stay cool, we used to drink cold water from earthen pots. We also had to do farm work only from 5 AM to 10 AM, as it was not possible to work in the scorching afternoon sun. To keep the house a bit cool, we put tree branches on the roof. This reduces direct sunlight and makes the house feel a bit cooler. This is how we cope with the heat.

— Pragati Raut · Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra

Prabhjot Kaur | 22 yrs The heat is unbearable this summer. I use sunscreen everytime I get out and cover my head. The AC is on for most of the time. I sometimes carry a small hand fan too. I carry a water bottle with me. I have also started to include one drink like lemonade with every meal.

— Harmanjot Kaur · Rajgarh, Barnala, Punjab

Palwinder Singh | 45 yrs I am a Vet, and I have noticed that this year heat has been particularly hard on animals and birds. I have seen many cases of animals suffering health issues because of this. I too feel very uncomfortable while working in so much heat. At home and in car because of Air conditioning it is fine but otherwise the weather is harsh enough to avoid leaving home. I drink as much water as possible to avoid fainting and avoid going in direct sunlight wihout protective cover.

— Harmanjot Kaur · Rajgarh, Barnala, Punjab

I come from Assam. I have to say that Bengaluru was really hot this year. The temperature was high at night. I always carry a water bottle with me. I try to stay inside when it is the hottest part of the day. Many students get tired when they are going to college especially when they are on buses. There are not places to wait in the shade at the bus stops so it is not very comfortable to commute. The heat in Bengaluru has changed my routine and it is harder for me to focus I get tired really fast. Bengaluru heat is something that I am still getting used to. It is affecting my life in many ways like my daily routine and my concentration, in Bengaluru.

— Rohan Shinde · Boorakunte, Sarjapura, Bengaluru Urban

Response 1: Kannur is always humid but this year was something else. Even the nights were hot which is unusual here. I'm near the coast so we usually get some breeze but this summer even that wasn't enough. Had to stop my evening walks completely and my blood pressure was acting up because of the heat. Response 2: Our house is near Thavakkara and it felt suffocating this summer. No breeze, high humidity. I borrowed a cooler from my cousin just to sleep at night. Power cuts in the evening made it even worse. I've been drinking tender coconut water almost every day just to cope. Response 3: The KSRTC bus commute to Kannur town in the afternoon is really awful. No ventilation, packed with people. I've started leaving office early just to avoid peak heat. My younger sister had a headache and vomiting last month turned out to be a mild heatstroke. This summer has been genuinely difficult for everyone here

— Shalin Sanish · Kannur, Kerala

We experience a lot of heat here, and even though we are in Uttarakhand, we have to endure a lot of heat. And to protect ourselves from the heat, we drink more and more water and sometimes sit under trees. And we try to drink more cold water so that we don't feel the heat and don't wander much outside, staying around the house. Drink cold water.

— Anshika Saxena · Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand

For us, the biggest problem this year was more about power cuts than the heat. When the temperature rose very high, often there was no electricity for hours. Fans, coolers, everything would stop, and it became difficult to sit inside the house. Even at night, we couldn't sleep properly, which caused problems in working the next day. To escape the heat, we kept drinking water repeatedly, used wet towels, and stayed in the shade as much as possible. But due to lack of electricity, children, the elderly, and sick people faced the most difficulty. Many times, the water supply was also affected, which further increased the problems. We feel that along with increasing heat, it is very important for the electricity system to be strengthened. If there is continuous electricity, people can get relief from the heat and daily life can become a bit easier.

— Kumari Ankita · Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh

This summer in Bangalore was unlike anything that I have seen there ,it was unusually hot and it was so dry and there was no speck of monsoon at all . I have a problem of getting migraines because of extreme heat so there was a lot of that and exhaustion and fatigue because of the heat and working in it especially during the field work . i just kept myself very hydrated throughout all of it so that my body is at least the heat is regulated in my body and i do not suffer physiologically because of it.

— Zainab Rizwi · Cornwallis Colony, New Delhi, Unknown

For me, this summer feels much hotter than last summer. I am drinking a lot of cold water, and appliances like ACs and coolers are helping a lot. I am also consuming more cold drinks, soda, and ice cream to cope with the heat.

— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

I am from Bihar, where the summer's really hot. Bengaluru is a lot better than my hometown when it comes to the heat.. This year the summer in Bengaluru was bad. I work outside all day as a construction worker. So it is hard for me to work in the afternoon when the sun's high. I drink a lot of water and something called ORS to stay cool. I also take breaks when I can. Some of the workers at my site felt weak because of the heat. There are not trees or shaded areas at construction sites, which makes it hard to work. Even though Bengaluru is cooler than Bihar the summer was still tough. It made my job really exhausting. The heat made it hard for me to do my work as a construction worker, in Bengaluru.

— Rohan Shinde · Billapura, Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka

So this time the heat is really too much and unbearable. And where I work, because there is AC, my office time passes well, but when I go out on the streets, the heat really becomes unbearable. When I return home at night, the AC also runs at our house during sleep. So at night, sleep is fine. But for the rest of the time, we have to endure this heat. There is nothing to do.

— Arani Biswas · Bally, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Currently the summers in Delhi have not been as harsh as they used to be. There have been some days where it has rained heavily leaving the air quite cool for a few days. We have a second hand AC that we use during summers and we try to control its usage .Those days we did not to use the AC during the night. After the few days the heat definitely returned to the same . This is a very dry summer time so it makes me sweat a lot. And since I work as a domestic helper and a cook , the heat from the kitchen really makes me sweat a lot.

— Zainab Rizwi · Cornwallis Colony, New Delhi, Unknown

Currently the summers in Delhi have not been as harsh as they used to be. There have been some days where it has rained heavily leaving the air quite cool for a few days. We have a second hand AC that we use during summers and we try to control its usage .Those days we did not to use the AC during the night. After the few days the heat definitely returned to the same . This is a very dry summer time so it makes me sweat a lot. And since I work as a domestic helper and a cook , the heat from the kitchen really makes me sweat a lot.

— Zainab Rizwi · Cornwallis Colony, New Delhi, Unknown

This summer has been hotter than usual. This year we experienced more heat waves. We also stopped agriculture in summer due to the unavailability of water for irrigation. This somewhat impacted our economy, which had been a source of external income. During the day, we drink mango and tamarind juice, which helps us maintain our body temperature.

— Anish Toppo · Raiboga, Sundargarh, Odisha

It's very hot now. It has been very hot for a few years now. When it's hot, people suffer. But my one disadvantage, I mean advantage, is that I have lived in various places. I have lived in hot countries. I have lived in desert regions. Very hot. I have lived in forests. Where it is hot, it is very hot. But I have gotten used to it. I can tolerate the heat quite a bit. I can tolerate it. I am tolerating this external heat. I have to bathe. I bathe well. I drink cold water. And thus, I tolerate the heat.

— Arani Biswas · Bally, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal

My name is Senbagam. We do loom work. It's a thatched house, being inside it in the sun is a bit difficult. Because the sun was intense, we drank a lot of water. Then cool drinks, tender coconut, watermelon, we ate many such varieties, only then the heat would be a bit less. As there was no rain, the sun was a bit more intense. To reduce that, if we eat these water-based foods, it will be a bit good and refreshing for the body. We can also stop for a while and operate the loom in the afternoon. Otherwise, operating the loom is a bit difficult.

— Divagar N · Parakkalur AD Street, Salem, Tamil Nadu

This summer season is hotter than the previous one. I usually avoid going outside during the peak afternoon hours because of the heat.

— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

This time, the heat has broken all old records. There's a lot of hot wind blowing here and the sun is so intense that it's become difficult to leave the house. My experience has been exhausting. Working in the heat and going out somewhere is very difficult, and in the summer, electricity often goes out due to storms. As soon as the power goes out, half the work stops, and fans don't run. Farms need water, and due to power outages, they don't get it on time. Many diseases occur in summer. People fall ill due to the sun, and because of the intense heat, they can't even go to the hospital. Animals also remain sick and don't eat properly.

— Kumari Ankita · Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh

This summer, I experienced much more heat than last year. Even though I moved out of the city, the temperature still felt the same. Now I live in a village which feels cooler because of the many trees here, and I rest under them during the afternoon heat waves to get relief.

— Deepak Oraon · Mahua, Vaishali, Bihar

My experience is that the 39 °C is making me irritated and uncomfortable in day time. Couldn't sleep and sit without electricity. Go in the shower room and sit there. Use air conditioners and cooler water. Avoid full clothes.

— Deepak Oraon · Mahua, Vaishali, Bihar

This year the summer has been really bad in Bangalore and in Bangalore anything upward of thirty degrees is something that we Bangaloreans cannot bear and I personally felt it was really hot and almost had to, you know, change my whole wardrobe to,bear the heat. it was a very harsh summer this time and it was also a very long summer. It's only the last couple of days that there's a cloud cover. even that one or two spells of rains that we had in between, it only increased the heat and did not cool Bangalore down too much. But we've been having a little bit of rain the last couple of weeks and hopefully summer is over and I can go back to my usual Bangalore wardrobe.

— Aditya Negi · Bengaluru, Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka

To deal with the heat, we use fans most of the time and a cooler when the temperature becomes too high. We also drink more water to stay hydrated during the summer

— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh