Delhi heatwave pushes homeless families to the brink as temperatures reach 43°C
Delhi heatwave leaves thousands homeless exposed to extreme heat, water shortages and rising illness; families with infants face acute risk as temps soar.
The Delhi heatwave has surged daytime highs to around 43°C while nights remain above 32°C, intensifying risks for the city’s hundreds of thousands living without shelter. The Delhi heatwave is forcing families into unsafe, crowded spaces under bridges and on pavements, where access to water, cooling and medical care is limited. Local reports and experts warn that those without roofs are among the most vulnerable to the direct and indirect health impacts of extreme heat.
Record highs and a growing homeless emergency
Temperatures this season have produced some of the hottest nights in over a decade, compounding daytime extremes and reducing opportunities for physiological recovery. City officials and civil society groups estimate more than 300,000 people live on Delhi’s streets, exposed to sustained heat, pollution and the urban “heat island” effect. A report by an Indian development centre documented at least 192 deaths among homeless people during a single nine-day heat event last summer, underscoring the immediate danger.
Life under the bridge: one family’s struggle
Shahida and her extended family have lived beneath an elevated road for nearly two decades after repeated evictions removed their makeshift shelters. Eleven people now share one stretch of pavement under the bridge, sleeping on thin mats inside mosquito nets that offer little respite from radiant heat. Their daily life is shaped by constant noise, interrupted sleep and the challenge of protecting a nine-month-old infant from blistering conditions.
Daily routines shaped by heat and noise
The family’s day begins before dawn as traffic noise and vehicle horns make uninterrupted sleep impossible for both adults and children. They dismantle their bedding each morning, fetch tea from a nearby stall and attempt to arrange caregiving across relatives so infants can be breastfed and watched. Breastfeeding under these conditions is physically draining; mothers report reduced milk production and an increased need to buy formula, which spoils quickly in high temperatures.
Water scarcity, costs and health emergencies
Accessing potable water is a daily struggle: public taps often deliver warm water, and buying bottled water can be prohibitively expensive for families. Shahida’s household pays for water when they can, but limited supplies and hot storage conditions heighten the risk of dehydration and diarrhoeal illness. Medical problems from heat — such as nausea, fainting, and severe dehydration — are common, and families sometimes rely on sympathetic local clinics for care when hospital treatment becomes necessary.
Shortage of shelters and safety risks for women
Official monitoring indicates a severe shortfall in shelter capacity, leaving many families with no viable alternative to sleeping outdoors. A member of the shelter oversight committee appointed by India’s Supreme Court has noted a capacity deficit approaching three quarters in some areas, and survivors say many municipal shelters feel hotter and less ventilated than the open air. Women report particular insecurity: nighttime vigilance to guard children and belongings prevents restful sleep and increases psychological strain.
Psychological strain and long-term health impacts
A 2025 study assessing the mental and social effects of extreme heat on people living on the streets found marked increases in behavioral and emotional distress. Large proportions of respondents reported heightened anger, withdrawal and frequent crying during heatwaves, with women showing higher levels of emotional exhaustion. Homelessness experts warn that chronic sleep disruption and repeated exposure to extreme temperatures will produce cumulative harms that extend beyond immediate heat-related illness.
Urban planners and humanitarian groups say the picture in Delhi reflects a broader climate challenge: extreme heat events are becoming more intense and frequent, and the city’s most vulnerable residents are least able to adapt. Targeted measures — including reliable cool-water access, heat-resistant shelter design, outreach medical teams and priority support for women and infants — are being urged by advocates to reduce preventable suffering.
The Delhi heatwave has exposed stark gaps in protection for people sleeping rough, and local advocates call for immediate measures to reduce avoidable deaths and illness. Without rapid action to expand cooling options, improve water access and provide safe shelter, families like Shahida’s will remain on the frontline of a growing climate and humanitarian crisis.