Living in the dark: India learns to live with hotter summers

Scorching summers in India are becoming increasingly unbearable, compelling residents to adapt their lives and seek refuge in the cooler hours of the night. Traditional methods of combating the heat are proving insufficient as temperatures continue to climb year after year.

“

We try to adjust, but the traditional ways to combat heat are not working. Every year the heat is increasing.

Scientific research attributes the escalating heatwaves to climate change, which is causing them to lengthen, intensify, and occur more frequently. In the village of Sanwata, Rajasthan, temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius in early June, with the area having previously recorded highs of 49 degrees Celsius. Residents like herdsman Sawai Bhati Singh worry about the health of their young children playing outdoors.

“

We never needed it before, but last year was hot, so we bought one. Now we have two.

Families are implementing new strategies to cope. Singh's home, built with thick stone and few windows, offers some insulation, but interiors remain stifling. His family has resorted to purchasing air coolers, having never needed them before, now owning two. They also use traditional methods like wrapping water bottles in jute to cool them through evaporation.

“

Living on the floodplain feels cooler than being stuck in the middle of houses. But on some days, day and night feel the same.

Farmers like Bhole Shankar, living near the Yamuna river floodplains in New Delhi, face similar challenges. New Delhi recorded 46.5 degrees Celsius this summer. Shankar's family lives in a simple hut not connected to the power grid, relying on a solar panel for a small fan. They have shifted their routines, working fields before dawn and resting during peak heat. Their sleeping arrangements involve traditional rope-lattice beds that allow for air circulation, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat that makes day and night feel indistinguishable.

“

Each passing year feels hotter. We try to keep in the shade, but when you are a farmer, that’s hard.