New Delhi, India – The scorching heatwave in Delhi has claimed the lives of 192 homeless individuals between June 11 and June 19, according to a recent report by the Centre for Holistic Development, a non-governmental organization.
Over the past week, temperatures in Delhi have surged past 40 degrees Celsius, creating extremely challenging conditions for those without shelter. The homeless population, already facing difficulties in accessing basic amenities, has been hit the hardest by the heatwave.
Authorities have discovered the bodies of 50 people from underprivileged backgrounds in the last 48 hours alone. While the exact cause of these deaths remains unconfirmed, the timing strongly suggests a correlation with the intense heat.
The NGO report reveals that a staggering 80% of the deceased individuals were homeless, underscoring the vulnerability of this marginalized group. Hospitals across the city, including Safdarjung Hospital, have been overwhelmed with patients suffering from heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Sunil Kumar Aledia, the executive director of the NGO, emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures to protect the homeless from extreme weather conditions. He highlighted the detrimental impact of factors like air pollution, urbanization, and deforestation on rising temperatures, exacerbating the plight of the homeless population.
Aledia also pointed out the challenges faced by homeless individuals in accessing government welfare programs due to the lack of identification documents and a permanent address. He called for the establishment of cooling centers, increased shelter capacity, and the distribution of water as immediate solutions to address the crisis.
The alarming death toll among the homeless in Delhi underscores the critical need for comprehensive strategies to safeguard one of society’s most vulnerable groups. The devastating impact of heatwaves on individuals without adequate shelter highlights the urgency of addressing the underlying causes of homelessness and ensuring access to essential resources during extreme weather events.