India on Fire: Facing the Climate Crisis

AL JAZEERA

Postproduction script

 

Time Code

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Description of Scene

 

 

Audio

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Opener

 

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

 

 

 

Ajmool Sheikh

 

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

 

 

Bablu Kumar

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

 

 

Ajmool Sheikh

 

 

 

Nitin Lochab

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

 

 

 

ACROSS INDIA, NEIGHBOURHOODS ARE BURNING.

WITH HOMES AND LIVES DESTROYED.

IN NEW DELHI, MOUNTAINS OF RUBBISH ARE ALIGHT.

 

 

 

SOT There was another one here that burnt down too.

 

 

THE COUNTRY’S MOST VULNERABLE ARE SWELTERING UNDER SOARING TEMPERATURES

 

SOT I have never experienced such hot days in my life.

 

 

SHORTAGES OF ELECTRICITY AND WATER ARE AFFECTING PEOPLES’ HEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS..

 

 

SOT We don’t get enough water.

We can't afford to buy it either.

We don't get enough water to drink.

 

SOT Your camera can bear the heat?

 

101 EAST MEETS THE RESIDENTS BEARING THE BRUNT OF INDIA’S HEATWAVE AND THOSE DESPERATELY TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRES.

00:00:51

Title

101 EAST LOGO

00:00:55

Title

INDIA ON FIRE

BY MATHILDE CUSIN, EDWARD HAYWOOD & NAVODITA KUMARI

00:01:00

Title

40°C

9AM

00:01:04

00:01:25

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

ACROSS INDIA’S CAPITAL NEW DELHI, TOXIC SMOKE FILLS THE AIR.

 

SURGING TEMPERATURES TRIGGERED A MASSIVE FIRE AT THIS LANDFILL WHICH QUICKLY ENGULFED THE ENTIRE SITE.

 

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD AJMOOL SHEIKH, LIVES AT THE BASE OF THIS MOUNTAIN OF RUBBISH.

HE WAS HOME WHEN THE BLAZE STARTED.

00:01:28

00:02:00

Ajmool Sheikh

There, it's still on fire.

 

If this fire is not stopped

then it can quickly spread

and burn down everything.

There's so much rubbish over there, paper and all

It can easily spread far away.

It can burn down houses as well.

You see this bulldozer? It scoops out garbage

and throws it over the fire.  

So that it can put out the fire.

It will stop the fire, but it can reignite again.

 

00:02:01

00:02:07

Mandakini Vo

 

RESIDENTS HERE LIVE WITH THE CONSTANT FEAR OF FIRES THAT CAN BURN THEIR HOMES TO THE GROUND WITHIN MINUTES.

00:02:08

00:02:40

 

 

Ajmool Sheikh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a house here that got burnt down.

There was another one here that burnt down too.

Over there, where the stacks of scraps are, 

that used to be my house.

I am very scared.

I am worried that if everything gets burnt, 

where am I going to stay?

That's why I am terrified.

 

00:02:43

00:02:53

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

AFTER THEIR HOUSE WENT UP IN FLAMES, AJMOOL'S FAMILY RENTED A SMALL HUT JUST A FEW METERS AWAY FROM THE BURNT SHELL OF THEIR PREVIOUS HOME.

HE TAKES US THERE.

00:03:00

00:03:10

 

Ajmool Sheikh

She is my mother, she is my little sister, he is my father...

he is my younger brother and she is my aunt.

And this is me.

 

00:03:11

00:03:19

Mandakini Vo

AS TEMPERATURES SOAR ABOVE 45 DEGREES, AJMOOL’S MOTHER, ABIRAN BIBI, SAYS THE SMALL WATER COOLER AND FAN PROVIDE LITTLE RELIEF.

 

00:03:20

00:03:37

Abiran Bibi

Mother

It's very sunny, that's why we use a cooler,  

as the fan blows hot air in this bamboo hut.

So, I switch on the cooler…

and stay inside with my children.

It's only after 5 or 6pm

that we go outside or roam around. 

The rest of the day we sit in front of the cooler.

 

00:03:40

00:04:14

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME FIRES HAVE IMPACTED FAMILIES EKING OUT AN EXISTENCE ON THE CITY’S DUMPS.

WITH SOME LANDFILLS AS HIGH AS 17-STORY BUILDINGS, THEY OFTEN CATCH FIRE IN THE PEAK OF SUMMER.

BUT THIS YEAR, THAT PEAK ARRIVED SOONER THAN USUAL - IN MARCH, THE COUNTRY RECORDED ITS HOTTEST TEMPERATURE IN AT LEAST A 122 YEARS - WITH SOME PLACES SCORCHING AT 50 DEGREES.

IN DELHI, THE YAMUNA RIVER, THE CITY’S LIFELINE, IS FAST DRYING UP.

 

 

00:04:15

Title

46°C

12 PM

00:04:18

00:04:32

Mandakini Vo

EVEN AWAY FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF TRASH, THE EXTREME DRY HEAT IS A DEADLY RECIPE FOR TRIGGERING FIRES IN THE DENSELY PACKED CITY.

 

BATTLING THE FLAMES IS FIREFIGHTER NITIN LOHCHAB.

 

00:04:36

00:04:40

Nitin Lohchab

Firefighter

This is a call from East Delhi, Pandav Nagar.

A building is on fire.  

A four staff team will attend it.

 

00:04:44

00:04:52

Mandakini Vo

NITIN AND HIS TEAM HAVE NO TIME TO LOSE - THEY NEED TO STOP THE FIRE AT THIS MATTRESS SHOP FROM SPREADING TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES CRAMMED NEARBY.

00:04:54

 

00:04:56

 

00:04:57

 

 

00:04:59

 

00:05:00

 

00:05:02

00:05:05

 

 

Nitin Lohchab

 

Nitin's colleague

 

Nitin Lohchab

 

 

Nitin's colleague

 

Nitin Lohchab

 

Nitin's colleague

Is there anyone inside?

 

No. 

 

Where is Ravi Nath? 

Where is Ravi Raj? 

 

Maybe he is on the other side.

 

Where's the way to go there?

 

From there.

Show him the way to the other side.

 

00:05:09

00:05:22

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

TWENTY FIREMEN BATTLE THE FLAMES AS SMOKE POURS OUT OF THE BUILDING.

ONCE THE ENTRANCE IS SECURE, WE'RE ALLOWED TO GO INSIDE. 

00:05:24

00:05:25

 

Nitin Lohchab

Your camera can bear the heat?

 

00:05:30

00:05:33

Mandakini Vo

WHEN WE ENTER, THE PLACE IS STILL SMOULDERING.

 

00:05:37

 

 

00:05:47

 

 

 

 

 

00:05:54

00:06:01

Nitin Lohchab

 

 

Journalist

 

 

 

 

 

Journalist

Come inside.

Ok, you should go out.

 

What's going on?

 

Release the hose pipe a bit more. 

 

More!

 

Can you explain what's going on?

 

This is a mattress shop, with a warehouse.

There are various types of mattresses.

 

00:06:05

00:06:18

Mandakini Vo

THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE SHOP IS 70 DEGREES.

 

AFTER TWO HOURS, THE FIRE IS CONTAINED AND NITIN CAN TAKE A BREAK.

BUT AT 45 DEGREES OUTSIDE, THERE IS LITTLE RELIEF.

 

00:06:22

00:06:48

 

 

 

 

 

Nitin Lohchab

 

 

 

 

 

Right now cooling operations are going on inside.

I will get myself cooled down when I go to the station.

Because right now, my head is burning. You know...  

this monkey cap. And the heat inside is not completely released.

But it's fine. It's not an issue.

In some time I will be back to normal.

I have to go back inside again.

 

 

 

 

00:07:04

00:07:21

Mandakini Vo

WORKING IN THIS SEVERE HEAT CAN HAVE A DANGEROUS IMPACT ON HEALTH.

BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE NO CHOICE.

AT MOST RISK, ARE MILLIONS OF CASUAL WORKERS, TOILING IN THE STREETS AS SWEEPERS, HAWKERS OR RICKSHAW DRIVERS LIKE BABLU KUMAR.

 

00:07:22

Title

38°C

8AM

00:07:26

00:07:32

Mandakini Vo

BABLU MIGRATED TO DELHI 20 YEARS AGO TO EARN A LIVING.

BUT HE FINDS THE WORK HARDER THAN EVER.

00:07:33

00:07:39

Bablu Kumar

It didn't used to be so hot before.

But the heat we feel today... 

I’ve never experienced such hot days in my life.

 

 

00:07:41

00:07:46

 

Mandakini Vo

DUE TO THE SEARING TEMPERATURES, BABLU IS FORCED TO TAKE MORE BREAKS THAN USUAL, AND THAT COSTS HIM MONEY.

 

00:07:50

00:08:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bablu Kumar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just completed a ride, so I’m feeling very hot.

The heat will increase after 11-12 o'clock.

So, whether it's an e-rickshaw,

or a battery-run rickshaw,

I need to earn. I have to pedal the rickshaw.

I came here to earn a living.

I have small children.

I have to look after them and my parents.

If I don’t work a single day, I won't be able to eat.

00:08:22

00:08:28

Mandakini Vo

BESIDES CARRYING PASSENGERS, BABLU ALSO TRA NSPORTS HEAVY GOODS, LIKE THIS LOAD OF BOOKS.

 

00:08:36

00:08:46

Bablu Kumar

If I weigh this load, it will be at least 200 kilograms.  

It’s impossible for one person to pull this on a steep road.

It needs a lot of strength.

 

00:08:56

Title

41°C

6PM

00:09:02

00:09:09

Mandakini Vo

AFTER A 15-HOUR SHIFT, NITIN RETURNS TO THE FIRESTATION, BUT HE CAN BE CALLED BACK FOR DUTY, AT ANYTIME.

 

00:09:11

00:09:49

Nitin Lohchab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel in the coming years, because of the rising

temperature, our job will get tougher.

There's a simple reason for it.

Earlier, the temperature used to be around 40 degrees.  

Now it's higher, up to 45, and it will increase.

 

The hotter it gets, the more work we’ll have.

We will get more rescue calls, difficulties will increase.

Fire calls are always related to the temperature.

If the temperature increases, fire calls

will definitely increase.

There is no doubt in that.

Even my seven-year-old daughter knows this.

She tells me, “Daddy, if it’s too hot

it means more fire”.

 

00:09:56

00:09:57

 

Upsot

Hello, Delhi Fire Control Room

00:09:58

00:10:04

Mandakini Vo

IN MAY, ALONE, DELHI RECORDED MORE THAN 3000 FIRES, ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS IN YEARS.

 

 

00:10:05

00:10:09

Control Room

There’s a car on fire.

Divert the fire truck there and go fast.

00:10:09

00:10:19

 

 

Mandakini Vo

EVERY DAY, FIREFIGHTERS RECEIVE DOZENS OF EMERGENCY CALLS ABOUT BLAZES CAUSED BY SHORT CIRCUITS, ESPECIALLY FROM RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND SMALL SHOPS.

00:10:20

00:10:33

Mandakini Vo

NITIN IS EXHAUSTED. BUT EVEN WHEN RESTING AT THE STATION, HE AND HIS TEAM ARE ALWAYS ON ALERT, WAITING FOR THE NEXT CALL.

 

BUT NITIN WOULDN’T WANT TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE.

00:10:34

00:11:03

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitin Lohchab

It’s my dream job. My father was in the Delhi Fire Service.

I’m passionate about it.

So many times my wife has told me…

I dream of fires and talk about it in my sleep.

 

PIX: SIREN CALLS, Nitin jumps from sofa, runs out door and runs down stairs

There is no other feeling than saving someone's life.

There’s a unique satisfaction within you.

I can’t find words to describe it.

 

00:11:06

00:11:29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SWELTERING HEAT HAS LED TO AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY.

 

FOR MONTHS, INDIA HAS STRUGGLED TO FIND ENOUGH COAL TO FUEL ITS POWER PLANTS,  AND A POWER CRISIS IS LOOMING.

AS THE PUNISHING HEATWAVE SWEEPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MORE PEOPLE ARE USING AIR CONDITIONERS LEADING TO OVERLOADING AND FREQUENT ELECTRICAL FIRES.

00:11:32

00:11:37

 

Niitin Lohchab

Fire control, write it down.

There was a fire on the first floor 

in the AC’s exhaust unit.

00:11:38

00:11:44

 

Mandakini Vo

THIS CALLOUT WAS RELATIVELY EASY - BUT NITIN HAS SEEN THE DEADLY COST OF THIS WAR WITH NATURE.

 

00:11:46

00:12:23

Nitin Lohchab

I was at the Jor Bagh fire station when we received the call.

When I went in, there were three dead bodies…

a mother and her three-year-old daughter who she was hugging.

 

Her other daughter, an eight-year-old I guess,

was also lying close by.

All three of them died in the fire.

 

When I saw the girl at the fire scene,

it reminded me that she’s my daughter’s age.

 

It struck me that I should keep myself safe while working.

What if something happens to me?

Who will take care of my daughter?

 

00:12:24

00:12:29

Train on tracks

Transition upsot (train)

00:12:36

Title

40°C

9AM

00:12:39

00:13:00

 

Mandakini Vo

BACK AT THE LANDFILL, AJMOOL AND HIS NEIGHBOURS ARE ALSO ON ALERT, KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR MORE FIRES.

BUT IT'S NOT THEIR ONLY WORRY.

THE 20 FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO A RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY.

THEY DEPEND ON 3000 LITRES, PROVIDED WEEKLY BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THESE WATER TANKS.

 

00:13:07

 

 

00:13:09

 

 

00:13:13

 

00:13:15

00:13:18

 

 

 

Ajmool

 

 

Man 1

 

 

Man 2

 

Man 3

 

 

Mum, this one?

 

Bring that here.

Hold the pipe carefully.

 

That drum is empty, bring it here.

 

First fill the bigger drum.

Yes, yes, give it to me.

 

00:13:20

00:13:37

 

Mandakini Vo

THE TANKER HAS A TIGHT SCHEDULE.

THE FAMILIES HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO COLLECT WATER FOR COOKING, WASHING, AND DRINKING BEFORE THE DRIVER LEAVES FOR THE NEXT NEIGHBOURHOOD.

 

IT’S NOT ENOUGH - BUT TO REQUEST ANOTHER TANK IS A LONG AND COMPLICATED PROCEDURE.

 

00:13:38

00:13:44

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hira Singh

(Water supplier)

 

 

 

 

 

You can approach your local legislator and...

tell him about your water problem, to please provide...

 

an extra tanker every week. He will write you a letter.

 

You need to submit that letter to the supply office,

and they’ll provide you the tanker.

 

00:13:46

00:13:50

 

Mandakini Vo

EVEN FOR SUPPLIERS, MEETING PEOPLE'S DEMANDS IS GETTING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

 

00:13:51

00:14:06

Hira Singh

 

 

 

 

Water shortages are  getting worse. 

There’s no water in the adjoining area.

 

Sufficient water is not getting filtered, 

we have to bring water from far away.. 

 

That's why instead of three rounds of supply,

I can only do one.

 

Because this area is so huge,

there’s lots of places to cover...

but we only have a few tankers.

So, it's a problem to supply adequately. 

 

Sometimes, they can get it within an hour. 

Sometimes, they have to wait for an entire day.

 

00:14:09

00:14:27

Mandakini Vo

THE HIGH TEMPERATURES AND LIMITED ACCESS TO WATER, PUTS RESIDENTS AT RISK OF HEAT STROKES AND DEHYDRATION.

BUT AJMOOL HAS FOUND A WAY TO PROTECT THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE FOR HIS FAMILY.

 

 

00:14:30

00:14:56

 

 

 

 

Ajmool Sheikh

 

 

 

 

The water warms up in the summer due to the heat.

So, to keep it cool, I have stored it in a

canister covered with fabric.

 

We don’t have a refrigerator.

 

We don’t get enough water.

We can't afford to buy it either.

 

When there’s a shortage of water,

there are fights between families.

 

We don't get enough water to drink,

we face many problems.

 

00:14:59

00:15:05

Mandakini Vo

WHEN HE'S NOT AT SCHOOL, AJMOOL TRIES TO FIND WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE UNBEARABLE HEAT.

 

00:15:07

Ajmool Sheikh

I make a shade for myself and sit.

Then I ask my grandmother...

for some water, then I take a nap.

It's so hot during the day,

that's why I sleep in the shade

 

00:15:20

Mandakini Vo

DESPITE THE TEMPERATURES, HE ALSO HELPS HIS FAMILY SIFT THROUGH THE TRASH. BUT HE DREAMS OF A DIFFERENT FUTURE.

 

00:15:28

00:15:44

Ajmool Sheikh

Accidents and other things keep happening.

 

I don't feel good here. There is pollution 

and it's filthy out here, and I have to work.

 

I don't like working.

If I get an education…

I will be able to become something.

If I don’t get any education…

I will remain illiterate.

Therefore, I want to study.

 

 

 

 

00:15:50

 

 

00:15:54

 

 

 

00:15:55

00:16:09

 

Mandakini Vo

 

 

Title

 

 

 

Mandakini Vo

 

IT’S NOT JUST THE CAPITAL NEW DELHI THAT’S BURNING UP –

 

 

37°C

8AM

 

THE WESTERN INDIAN CITY OF AHMEDABAD IS ONE OF THE WORST-HIT AREAS THIS YEAR. 

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE TEMPERATURE IN THE CITY HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN ABOVE 40 DEGREES.

BUT HERE, SOME LOCALS ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO BEAT THE HEAT.

 

00:16:10

00:16:18

Meena Soni

Mitthu! Mitthu!

 

I have to bathe them.

 

00:16:22

00:16:28

Mandakini Vo

FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MEENA SONI, WHO LIVES WITH HER HUSBAND, STRUGGLES TO PROTECT HER TWO CHILDREN FROM THE HEAT WAVE.

 

00:16:29

00:16:49

 

Meena Soni

I don't let her go out in the sun to play.

I keep her at home.

Right now, it's so hot. I switch on the fan...

and the cooler and make her stay in the house.

 

I don't let her go anywhere in the sun.

 

Apply this sunscreen on your arms.

 

00:16:53

00:16:59

Mandakini Vo

MEENA IS A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH AN NGO THAT WORKS TO IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS FOR WOMEN IN SLUMS.

 

00:17:04

00:17:16

 



Meena Soni

 

See, at 10am, it's 37 degrees.

 

40 degrees at 11am…

 

42 degrees at noon.

 

Reaching 43 degrees at 1pm..

 

00:17:20

00:17:36

Mandakini Vo

TWICE A MONTH, SHE HOLDS CLIMATE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS ACROSS THE CITY.

HERE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SARKHEJ, MORE THAN 2000 FAMILIES LIVE IN SLUMS, WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE SCORCHING TEMPERATURES.

00:17:37

00:17:52

Meena Soni

Shall we start?

 

Five!

First four players come to play.

Missed again!

 

00:17:53

00:17:56

Mandakini Vo

THIS SIMPLE GAME OF SNAKES AND LADDERS TEACHES HOW THE RISING HEAT CAN AFFECT THEM.

 

00:17:57

00:18:56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meena Soni

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When she was bitten by the snake, she climbed down.  

Why did the snake bite her? I read out that box to her. 

“The temperature crossed over 45 degrees.” 

because if it's too hot, she can fall sick.

As a result, she won't be able to work. She can get a headache.  

She could fall sick, and she’ll need to rest under the fan. 

Her income will decline, and at the same time, 

her electricity bill will shoot up.

 

This is about climate change, to explain it. 

to these women in a very simple way.

 

Some of the women here are educated and some are not. 

 

I believe if I explain climate change to ten people. 

And even one or two people can understand it...

then they will explain it to ten others.

It feels good.

00:18:59 

00:19:20

Mandakini Vo

AFTER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE - MEENA AND HER COLLEAGUE DHAVAL SHARMA BRING A LOW COST SOLUTION TO HELP THE RESIDENTS HERE BEAT THE HEAT.

IN THIS SLUM, MOST WOMEN STAY AT HOME. MANY OF THE HOUSES ARE MADE WITH ASBESTOS ROOFS THAT ABSORB A LOT OF HEAT, MAKING IT UNBEARABLE INSIDE.

 

00:19:23

00:19:32

Dhaval Sharma

This is a solar reflective white paint.

Applying this reduces the room temperature

by seven to eight degrees.

 

00:19:38

00:20:01

Meena Soni

Our NGO, has distributed this white paint  

to 5000 people to paint their roofs.

 

They can apply it on their own.

 

We just give them the paint and they

apply it onto the roof themselves.

 

Let's see how long she can paint because it's too hot.  

She can't bear it for long.

 

It's too hot.

 

00:20:03

00:20:08

Mandakini Vo

IT’S A SIMPLE IDEA, BUT ONE THAT SUREKHA CHAURASIA SAYS WORKS.

00:20:12

 

00:20:14

 

00:20:16

 

 

00:20:18

00:20:29

Dhaval Sharma

 

Surekha Chaurasia

 

Meena Soni

 

 

Surekha Chaurasia

 

Is it better with the white paint for you?

 

Yes, it’s better now.

 

How long has it been for you?

 

 

Two years.

I have to think of painting it white again,

because it starts to feel hot again after two years.

Right now, it’s so hot. We feel very hot.

00:20:30

00:20:33

Mandakini Vo

BUT AT LEAST THEY’VE HAD SOME RESPITE - AND THEY HAVE THE PROOF.

 

00:20:34

00:21:01

Dhaval Sharma

Before we painted the roof white…

the temperature here was 40.2 celsius.

 

During that time, we measured in winter and in the evening.

But now, it’s summer and we’re measuring it

around 12 o’clock.

And it's just 38 degrees.   

00:21:02

00:21:05

Mandakini Vo

WHILE THAT’S STILL HOT - SUREKHA FINDS ITS MORE BEARABLE

 

00:21:06

00:21:23

Surekha Chaurasia

There's a lot of heat here because of this roof,

and the ground also heats a lot.

It has given us some relief.

 

Before applying the white paint,

we used to sleep outside.

But for two years, ever since we applied the white paint,

we don’t sleep outside.

 

00:21:24

00:21:34

Mandakini Vo

THE PROJECT IS HELPING SLUM RESIDENTS ACROSS FIVE STATES IN INDIA AND WILL SOON BE EXPANDED TO HELP OTHER POOR COMMUNITIES BE MORE CLIMATE-RESILIENT.

 

00:21:35

Title

42°C

7PM

00:21:40

00:22:02

Mandakini Vo

BACK IN DELHI, BABLU COMPLETES HIS TENTH RICKSHAW TRIP OF THE DAY.

 

HE’S EXHAUSTED … AND HEADS HOME TO A MAKESHIFT HUT  BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.   

 

THIS SUMMER, EVEN AS THE SUN SETS, DUSK BRINGS LITTLE RELIEF.

THE AIR BRISTLES WITH HEAT.

 

00:22:07

00:22:25

Bablu Kumar

The temperature right now is like this afternoon...

45 to 47 degrees. I am sweating so much.

 

I feel very hot. If we don't cook, 

I will have to sleep on an empty stomach.

 

It’s very important for me to eat. If I don't eat,

I won't be able to pull the rickshaw tomorrow.

 

00:22:27

00:22:31

Mandakini Vo

THE HEAT MAKES HIM MISS HIS FAMILY AND VILLAGE MORE THAN EVER.

 

00:22:32

00:23:17

 

 

 

 

 

Bablu Kumar

 

 

 

 

 

This extreme heat in Delhi, this hot

weather, is very problematic for us. 

In my village, there are open

spaces like mango orchards.

 

There is a lot of greenery.

We can comfortably sit outside and 

even sleep in the open.

It's not the same in Delhi. In my village, if I don't

work for 10 days,  I will get food at home.

 

I can wash my clothes.

My children, my parents can be taken care of.  

I don't have to worry about my laundry.

 

Here in Delhi, unless I earn, there is no

 one to feed me, do my laundry.

If I earn I will eat, if I don't, I won't.

00:23:21

00:23:37

Mandakini Vo

INSIDE THE HOUSE, IT'S TOO HOT TO RELAX AND UNWIND.

BABLU PREFERS TO SIT OUTDOORS TO GET SOME FRESH AIR.

 

BUT THE PEACE IS SHATTERED BY THE CRIES OF HIS NEIGHBOUR’S SON.

 

BABLU SHARES HIS DISTRESS

 

00:23:40

00:24:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bablu Kumar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come, Danish baby.

 

Who hurt you Danish ?

 

Who is bothering you Danish?

 

It’s so hot. If we adults are suffering so much… 

imagine how hard it must be for babies.

 

What can we do?

He is an infant.

He is feeling sleepy and he is feeling so hot.  

There's no place where he can comfortably sleep.

The fan is blowing only hot air. It's unbearable for the baby.

 

If I walk him for a while he'll stop crying.

Danish baby, sleep.

 

Go to sleep, baby.

 

00:24:29

00:24:52

Mandakini Vo

FOR THOSE LIKE BABLU AND HIS NEIGHBOURS, THERE'S LITTLE RELIEF IN SIGHT.

 

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTISTS WARN THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE WORLD'S WARMEST YEARS ON RECORD.

 

AND WITH INDIAN SUMMERS GETTING HOTTER AND LONGER, BEARING THE BRUNT OF IT ARE THE COUNTRY'S POOREST, CAUGHT IN A BATTLE BETWEEN MAKING A LIVING AND SURVIVING THE ELEMENTS.

 

END

 

 

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