Heat kills three in Delhi, chance of rain today

NEW DELHI: The current spell of intense heat is believed to have claimed at least three lives in the capital over the past few days. The bodies of the three victims, all homeless, were found from different spots in central Delhi, with preliminary investigations suggesting that extreme weather led to the deaths.
Two of the bodies were found outside Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday night.Both men, as yet unidentified, seem to have died in their sleep. Another man, Yaseen, 45, was found dead close to a drain in Defence Colony on Monday. In all three cases, no drug addiction or physical injuries were detected.
Delhi saw five straight days of maximum temperatures of over 43 degrees C, with the mercury touching 45 or more on Monday and Tuesday, when the deaths occurred. The heat eased up a bit on Wednesday, with the day temperature staying at 41.8 degrees C, still more than a degree above normal.
Some relief can be expected on Thursday and Friday, when there’s a 25% chance of a dust storm or thundershowers.
Peak summer months in Delhi generally see a spike in deaths among the homeless. Last year, the average number of deaths per month among the homeless was 250 but the count in June was 485 and in July, 364. In 2013, too, the deaths in June and July were 288 and 278, respectively, as opposed to a monthly average of 200.
This year, 484 people living in the open are suspected to have died due to extreme weather conditions, mainly during the winter months.
A rough estimate by NGOs suggests 80% of these deaths are due to natural causes, with extreme weather aggravating the condition. Most of the time, the cause of death is not analysed so it becomes difficult to come up with accurate figures of casualties caused by the weather. However, mortuary officials say the count of unidentified bodies goes up drastically during peak summer and monsoon months, and during cold wave conditions.
"Most of the homeless suffer from diarrhoea and fever which worsens due to heat and ultimately results in dehydration, leading to death," said activist Indu Prakash, from Indo-Global Social Service Society.
Jagat Ram, one of the city’s homeless who had shifted to a shelter below the Minto Bridge last winter, said at times it becomes difficult to get drinking water during summers. Earlier, there used to be water points outside houses and temples, but now all of them are defunct, so we have to walk down to the Bengali Market and get water. At times when I am sick it becomes really difficult for me," he said.
Ram prefers staying below the flyover than going to a night shelter. At least when a car passes there is some breeze," he says.
Living conditions at night shelters worsen during the summer months. In winter, you can sleep without an air-cooler but in summer you can’t do without the basic cooling amenities at these shelters which are made of tin sheds. There are not enough toilets nor is there any hygiene required for basic living," said Sunil Adelia from Centre for Holistic Development.