Delhi’s Heatwave Hits Streets, Thermal Cameras Show Surprising Hotspots

Fri Jun 19 2026 20:07:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent heatwave in Delhi has pushed street temperatures beyond what official gazettes report, leaving residents, especially the most vulnerable, struggling to stay cool.

India’s capital, Delhi, has endured temperatures that top 40 °C for days, while thermal cameras reveal surface temperatures soaring past 60 °C in traffic zones and market streets. In vehicle‑congested flyovers and busy bazaars, heat radiates from concrete, asphalt and sunlight‑absorbing surfaces, creating pockets of extreme warmth that can be lethal. Local vendors and workers, who have no shade, experience headaches, fatigue and disorientation, with medical experts warning that exposure can lead to heat exhaustion and more serious illnesses. The city’s heat‑related hardships highlight a growing climate crisis that disproportionately harms low‑income communities.

Delhi’s Heatwave Hits Streets, Thermal Cameras Show Surprising Hotspots

For several days, Delhi’s weather has reached peak temperatures that far exceed the city’s recorded 40 °C ranges. Tracking heat across the city with a thermal cameras, we witnessed surface temperatures soaring over 60 °C in busy traffic corridors and market alleys—levels unheard of in everyday weather reports.

The city’s government’s “real temperature 41 °C, feels like 48 °C” for the day is often two degrees shy of what people feel at the street level, said Delhi Meteorological Department. Our field work, carried out by Greenpeace India researchers, showed that visually‑heated surfaces push the ambient heat felt by people far above the standard air temperature reading. On the IIT flyover, the camera recorded 64 °C on vehicles without shade versus 42 °C in shaded areas. Stepping just ten feet away, the temperature dropped to 40 °C under a tree.

Health hazards include heat exhaustion, fatigue, headaches and, in severe cases, organ failure. Dr. A Fathahudeen, a pulmonologist, noted that prolonged exposure to temperatures above 40 °C can raise core human body temperature, leading to confusing symptoms and, if untreated, death. He urges the public to stay hydrated, wear light clothing and avoid outdoor activity between 10:30 am and 3 pm.

Our walk into Delhi’s historic Red Fort revealed the contrast between the city’s tourism spots and the plight of street vendors. Sanjana Ben, a dry‑fruit vendor, felt her skin flare when the camera measured 57 °C just a few inches from the ground, yet she could only pause for a breath before the heat forced her to rest again. The cough and nausea she experiences illustrate the struggle for even simple daily chores.

On a deeper look, the heat has encroached into inner residential spaces. In Sundar Nagri, a lower‑middle neighbourhood, the thermal camera recorded 42 °C outside the two‑room home of siblings Kajal and Abhishek, with indoor temperatures hovering no higher than 40 °C. A small ceiling fan recirculates but offers almost no relief. “I can’t suppress the ache in my chest,” Kajal said, “and I feel like I’m standing next to an oven at night.”

Even renowned parts such as Chandni Chowk, built without shade, showed 56 °C on sidewalks and 51 °C on benches, reminding us that ₹50‑rupee market stalls are literally burning under sun‑heated asphalt.