Adapting to Extreme Heat

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 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

My cousin- college student"The mango quality this year has been uneven ", some batches of Himsagar were excellent and others were disappointing. But the issue I keep thinking about is how climate change is quietly affecting the mango season itself. The season feels shorter, the yields are inconsistent, and farmers are bearing the uncertainty. My message to our local elected representative would be this ", please advocate at the state level for agricultural support programs that help small mango farmers in Bengal adapt to changing weather patterns. Subsidised irrigation, crop insurance, better weather advisory systems ", these are things that require policy attention. We enjoy mangoes every summer without thinking about the farmer who grew them. It is time our representatives started thinking about that too."

— Yuvikaa Agarwal · South Dumdum, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal

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

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

Balwinder Kaur | 46 yrs The heat is very harsh this summer. I work as the health supervisor and there is an increase in heat strokes. Many people have started to take ORS as a preventive measure as well. I try to drink as much water as possible to deal with the heat. I also use a cold cloth to cool down sometimes. Other than that AC usage is very high for us. How ever rain sometimes provide respite from the heat.

— 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

We feel more stressed nowadays because the heat is increasing. The sun is getting stronger, and rain is happening untimely.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

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

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 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

Hello, regarding the summer, the sun is very strong. But since we are in the countryside, we don't feel it much because we work in the village. It's a little, a little more. But because we are farmers, we don't feel it. But I don't know how you people in town are coping, poor things. The sun is indeed very strong this year. I don't know if it will stay like this or how it will be. But we ourselves are drinking a lot of water in the countryside. But even if we farm like that, our farming is not yielding much. The yield is very low. Half of the harvest is wasted due to yellow disease. I don't know how we are going to cope.

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

Oh brother, this year the summer has been extremely hot. It used to be difficult to go out of the house during the day. In the afternoon, it felt like fire was raining on the streets. Even the fan often threw hot air, and it became difficult to sit without a cooler or AC. If the power went out, the trouble would increase even more. To protect ourselves from the heat, we drink as much water as possible, and consume things like lemonade, buttermilk, and ORS so that there is no water deficiency in the body. We only go out in the afternoon if it's very necessary, otherwise, we stay indoors. We wear light cotton clothes and try to go out in the sun less often. At night, sitting on the roof or in an open space provides some relief. In our opinion, this year's summer has been hotter than in several past years. It also affected the work of many people, especially those who work outdoors. We hope that the weather will normalize a bit in the coming time and we will get relief from such intense heat.

— Kumari Ankita · Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh

In this world, it's rather dangerously widespread because the Earth is on the path of global warming. We have destroyed trees and plants. As a result, this heat is unbearable not only for us but for everyone. And those who have money are fighting this heat with air conditioning. They are trying to adjust to the heat. In doing so, they are further warming the entire planet. As a result, poor people and the entire animal kingdom cannot tolerate this heat anymore. Consequently, most people are actually unable to adapt to this heat.

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

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

House-helpThe commute to Dum Dum Metro station in the morning already feels punishing by eight o'clock. The heat this year is more humid than dry which makes it significantly worse. One issue I have noticed is that there is almost no shade along the main roads leading to the station no trees, no bus shelter roofing, nothing. People are standing in direct sun waiting for buses or autos. A practical community solution would be for the RWA or local club to petition the municipality for temporary shade structures or green canopy plantings along the most used pedestrian routes. Urban tree planting is a long-term solution but shade nets along footpaths could be implemented quickly and cheaply. I would happily contribute to a crowdfunded effort if someone organized it.

— Yuvikaa Agarwal · Sarjapura, Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka

I am Lakshmanarayanan. I am a weaver. Now, due to the gas shortage, cooking is very difficult. Now, we have to buy firewood from nearby to cook. They have also increased the price of firewood due to the shortage. So, it's very difficult now. Now, it's the rainy season. During the rainy season, from 5-6 PM, strong winds blow. It rains. So, cooking with firewood is a bit difficult. If there wasn't this gas shortage, we could manage a bit. Our weaving business is already going through some difficulties. Now, with this situation, life is becoming a bit harder.

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

In my area, Dasheri and Bambaiya are popular mango varieties. This year, the mangoes are not as good as usual. I think the extreme heat may have affected both the quantity and quality of the mangoes.

— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

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

This summer is very difficult because of the extreme heat. During the afternoon, it is hard to go outside and do daily work comfortably. To deal with the heat, I make sure to drink plenty of water and traditional drinks like sattu and buttermilk. I also try to go out only in the morning or evening when the temperature is lower.

— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

Response 1: Here in Kannur we mostly get Neelam and Moovandan varieties. This season the quality is just not good, they're ripening too quickly because of the heat and the taste is not there. I bought a dozen last week and half of them were overripe by the next day. Prices are also higher than usual this year.Response 2: Moovandan is the most common mango here and usually it's so good but this year it's disappointing. My neighbour has a mango tree in his compound and even those fell early this season. The ones in the market look okay from outside but inside they're fibrous. Feels like the heat just ruined the whole season.Response 3: We get Neelam and Chandrakaran mangoes in Kannur mostly. This year the season was very short by the time you got used to seeing them in the market they were gone. My mother says the trees are not flowering properly because the weather has been so unpredictable. Prices went up a lot too, almost double compared to two years back.

— Shalin Sanish · Kumbam, Kannur, Kerala

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

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

Nearby lady tailor (senior citizen)This summer has been the worst I can remember in thirty years of living in Dum Dum. The afternoons are unbearable and nights offer no relief either. The real issue for people my age is that heat stress can be medically dangerous and most elderly people living alone have nobody checking on them during a heatwave. I want to leave a message for our ward councilor to set up a simple neighborhood heat relief system. Even something as basic as designating one community room in the local club or library as a cool shelter during peak afternoon hours, with a fan or AC, would help elderly and low-income residents who have no cooling at home. Other cities have done this. Dum Dum ward can do it too. It does not require much money, only some will and organization.

— Yuvikaa Agarwal · South Dumdum, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal

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

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

I have been living in this area for more than twenty years, and I feel mango seasons have changed a lot. Earlier, the fruits used to arrive in large quantities and were very flavorful. Around Kuthambakkam, we usually see Banganapalli, Senthooram, and Malgova varieties. This year, the quality is mixed. Some mangoes are excellent, but many are smaller than usual. The extreme summer temperatures and irregular rainfall seem to have affected production. Prices are also higher than what we used to pay a few years ago. Mangoes are still available everywhere, but many people are buying less because of the cost.

— Sanjukta Chanda · Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur, 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

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

In the present era, due to unseasonal weather, the yield of agricultural crops has decreased.

— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha

School teacher (govt) "My west-facing room becomes unbearable by afternoon and we also deal with load shedding which cuts off the fan and AC exactly when you need them most. The load shedding issue is what I want to raise with our local representative. During a heatwave, power cuts are not just an inconvenience — they are a health risk, especially for children and the elderly. My message would be — please take up with CESC the issue of scheduled and unscheduled outages in residential areas during summer peak hours. If load management is necessary, it should happen during off-peak times, not between two and six in the afternoon when temperatures are at their highest. We pay our electricity bills. We deserve reliable power when it matters most."

— Yuvikaa Agarwal · South Dumdum, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal

My name is Kanagavalli, I am a housewife. There is a lot of sun exposure in our town. So we have problems. Young children are falling ill. Prickly heat boils are occurring frequently. We are reducing body heat by drinking water, coconut water, and eating watermelon. You also eat a lot of fruits.

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

Women in rural and tribal areas of Odisha depend entirely on the environment for collecting firewood, drinking water, and forest products (e.g., tendu leaves, mahua). When the environment deteriorates, they have to work harder to get these things.Women are most affected during natural disasters like cyclones, floods, and droughts. Environmental pollution or climate change makes their lifestyle difficult.

— Sonali Behera

Being in village right from the starting of May I was very difficult to bear this hot humid summer I just came back from university after completing my pg and then I had to my parents home right from university life which was way more comforting to village life it became very difficult for me adjust and at those days during every every heay rain and storms came due to which there was no electricity in whole in village inside home it became unbearable to stay for which we were going to sleep in terace but that too can't helped us out as mosquitoes badly attacked us and even in day time we used to go under tree but that didn't change anything, those days to survive in home was really difficult as everything felt very irritating like itching sweating and rashes.

— Anish Toppo · Raiboga, Sundargarh, Odisha