As India’s capital swelters under 45C, a team of British researchers has developed emergency heat survival protocols tailored for Delhi’s most vulnerable. The work, led by the University of Manchester’s Global Heat Health team, focuses on low-cost measures like wet cloths, shaded urban spaces, and community cooling centres. But critics argue that without addressing poverty and inadequate housing, such protocols are a sticking plaster.
“You can’t just tell people to stay hydrated when they can’t afford clean water,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar, a Delhi-based public health expert. The protocols, set to be trialled this summer, include alarms for street vendors and staggered work hours for labourers. Yet, as climate change intensifies, the question remains: can science outrun inequality?
