Heat Is the New Work Hazard—Are Cities Ready?
Amritsar’s outdoor workers are braving 41°C—here’s how cities can step up
By Kiranjot Kaur, Fellow at the Aircare Centre
This week, Amritsar hit 41°C. The roads baked. Shade was scarce. The wind carried no coolness. Yet the city kept moving.
As Amritsar’s outdoor workers continue to bear the heat, it’s not just a question of survival—it’s a fight against an invisible force that constantly threatens their well-being. As one construction worker put it, “We’re out here from sunrise to sunset. If we stop, we don’t earn. The heat? We just have to deal with it.”
Delivery riders zipped through the streets. Street vendors stood for hours beside wilting produce. Sanitation staff cleaned under a punishing sun. These workers have no choice but to endure the extreme conditions. “We don’t have air-conditioning or coolers,” one vendor said, wiping sweat from his brow. “Water is scarce, and breaks are rare. We just keep working.”
Heatwaves are no longer an exception. They're now a part of our everyday summers. But in cities like Amritsar, their impact is not felt equally. For those who work outdoors—often in informal, under-protected roles—heat is not just uncomfortable. It’s dangerous.
As one delivery worker explained, “Sometimes I feel like I’m melting in the heat. I can't stop, though. Every delivery counts." For many, the choice is stark: work in the sun, or not earn at all.
The Silent Strain of Outdoor Labour
Unlike office workers or schoolchildren, gig workers and daily-wage labourers can’t simply stay indoors when a heatwave is announced. They ride, lift, dig, sell, and sweep—sometimes for 10 to 12 hours—with no cooling breaks, no shade, and often no access to drinking water.
Most are not equipped with protective gear. Many don’t have contracts, leave days, or health insurance. And none can afford to stop. A missed day is a missed wage. Heatstroke, dehydration, fatigue, and fainting become part of the job description—unwritten, but very real.
One worker noted, “When the heat gets to you, you feel weak. But you push through. If you don’t, you lose money. You lose everything.”
This is not resilience. This is exposure without protection.
Why the City Must Respond
It’s easy to believe that heatwaves are a matter of personal adjustment. But in urban India, where millions work outdoors, this is a matter of public planning.
Just as we prepare for monsoon flooding or winter smog, cities must now prepare for summer heat—especially for those most vulnerable to it. Not with token awareness drives, but with real, people-centered interventions.
Because heat is not just a weather condition. It’s a public health issue.
What Cities Like Amritsar Can Actually Do
The good news is: the solutions don’t need to be complex.
- Create shaded rest zones and water points near major construction sites, markets, labour chowks, and public transport hubs. A simple bench under a canopy with access to clean drinking water can go a long way.
- Encourage flexible or staggered working hours for outdoor labour, avoiding the peak heat between noon and 4 PM. Municipal departments and private contractors can lead by example.
- Provide safety information—through SMS alerts, radio, local media, and community WhatsApp groups—on how to identify heat illness and where to seek help.
- Collaborate with gig platforms to ensure food delivery and mobility workers receive basic hydration support, health tips, and optional breaks.
- Integrate heat preparedness into urban planning—by increasing tree cover, designing shaded footpaths, and using reflective materials in public construction.
None of these steps require waiting for large-scale infrastructure investments. They require awareness, intent, and prioritisation.
A New Kind of City Leadership
The future of climate adaptation in India won’t just be about international negotiations or sweeping policy. It will be about how well our cities respond to the everyday challenges of rising heat—and whether they include outdoor workers in their plans.
Amritsar, like many Indian cities, is built on the labour of those who work outside—visible, essential, and yet often left out of protection frameworks. If we want to build truly climate-resilient cities, their safety must become central.
Because no one should have to choose between heatstroke and hunger. Not in 2025. Not in a city that prides itself on its heritage, community, and care.
-
.jpg "Kiranjot Kaur")
-
Kiranjot Kaur, Writer
kiranjotk280@gmail.com
Phone No. : .................
Disclaimer : The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the writer/author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Babushahi.com or Tirchhi Nazar Media. Babushahi.com or Tirchhi Nazar Media does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.