00:00India is becoming one of the clearest examples of how extreme heat can turn
00:04into an economic problem especially in a country where so many jobs still depend
00:09on physical labor. In some places workers are pushing through temperatures as high
00:15as 46 degrees. Last month a majority of the world's 50 hottest cities were in
00:20India and the impact is showing up across the economy with higher operating
00:24costs, rising power demand and pressure on inflation. The challenge is
00:29particularly acute in India because large parts of its economy from
00:33construction and manufacturing to agriculture and logistics still rely on
00:38people working outdoors or in poorly cooled environments. The government has
00:43told businesses to reschedule working hours and provide hydration breaks in
00:48rest areas but even with cooling systems and hydration salts some businesses we
00:54spoke to say workers still can't cope with the heat. In construction contractors
00:58are shifting outdoor work to early mornings or late evenings. Quick commerce
01:03companies are starting to provide cooling vests to delivery workers but for millions
01:08of self-employed and informal workers even basic protections are hard to combine.
01:15And beyond the health risks there is a bigger economic cost. Studies show that lost
01:21labor from rising heat and humidity could put between 2.5% and 4.5% of India's GDP at
01:28risk.
01:28recent months by 2030.
01:30.
01:32.
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