Heatwave and Pollution Push Delhi’s Outdoor Workers to Breaking Point

As the world marks World Health Day under the theme “My health, My right,” a growing number of outdoor workers in Delhi — including auto-rickshaw drivers, rickshaw pullers, and roadside vendors — are battling serious health risks due to soaring temperatures and toxic air.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert, Delhi is bracing for continued heatwave conditions until Wednesday. On Sunday, the capital recorded a maximum temperature of 38.2°C, over 3 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature was 18.5°C. To make matters worse, the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 209, categorised as ‘poor’.

Outdoor workers, who have little choice but to continue their labor-intensive jobs, are among the worst affected. Santosh Hazra, an auto-rickshaw driver, described the daily struggle: “Skin gets burnt during a heatwave; the loo also affects health. There’s ample free water in Delhi, but very few shaded areas to rest.”

The combination of intense heat, lack of shade, and poor air quality is proving detrimental not only to physical health but also to livelihoods. Many workers report headaches, dizziness, skin issues, and reduced income as people opt to stay indoors.

Experts are calling for urgent policy measures to protect vulnerable outdoor workers — including more rest zones, shaded shelters, access to clean drinking water, and better healthcare support — as climate extremes become the new normal in urban India.