"This summer in 50C Delhi is unlike any other I've had'

In stifling temperatures that stop air conditioners from working and make tap water scalding hot, Stuti Mishra is forced to live with India's new reality of extreme heat

- Stuti Mishra

Standing outside felt like being in a furnace. Air conditioners stopped working, tap water was scalding hot, and the physical capacity for any slightly laborious task plummeted. Burns from hot surfaces were a real threat, and even a short walk left me feeling utterly drained.

This summer in Delhi – where temperatures have hovered around the 50C mark throughout May and June – has been surreal, exhausting, and unlike any other I have experienced. The air conditioner, once a luxury, became a necessity, a lifeline. But despite running non-stop, the cool air struggled to make a dent against the sweltering temperatures.

There was no respite at night either, when sleeping was a struggle as power cuts became more frequent and the stifling heat persisted. Even in the early morning and the late evening, the mercury would regularly top 40C, all but closing the window of opportunity to grab just a few moments outdoors in a temperature that resembled something humane.

The heat also brought a sense of isolation. My elderly mother, unable to cope with the extreme temperatures, stayed indoors, and our usual evening walks were put on hold. The psychological and emotional toll of relentless heat was immense, wearing everyone down. The rise in temperatures brings with it a rise in tempers; the smallest grievances are amplified and there’s a pervasive sense of fatigue and frustration.