00:00Praveen Kamath is a 28-year-old who runs a cold drinks cart in Delhi.
00:05When a journalist asked him how he was managing during the peak heat of May 2024, he said,
00:11It is so hot, I can hardly stand being outdoors, but I must work.
00:16What can I do?
00:17I am poor, so I have to do it."
00:21Praveen is not alone.
00:23He represents millions.
00:24Between March 1 and June 18, 2024, India's health ministry reported that approximately
00:3041,000 people were affected by heat stroke.
00:34The official death count from heat-related causes was 360.
00:39But a separate report by the non-profit Heatwatch, which tracked news reports across 17 states,
00:46found the actual numbers was closer to 733 deaths, more than double the official figure.
00:54Hospitals in Delhi reported a 20% increase in heat-related illness admissions in 2024.
01:01Heat stroke and severe dehydration, heat exhaustion are some of the reasons.
01:06And India's Ministry of Earth Sciences has documented that mortality rates from heat waves
01:11in India have increased by 62.2% over the last four decades.
01:1662.2% in 40 years.
01:19Just imagine.
01:19Think about who is most vulnerable – daily wage workers, construction laborers, rickshaw
01:25drivers, vegetable vendors, the elderly, children and the homeless.
01:29People who have no choice but to be outside.
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01:40The
