Banda, a town in northern India, has recorded some of the country's highest temperatures, with May reaching 48.2°C. The extreme heat, exacerbated by humidity and frequent power cuts, has forced residents to sleep outside, including at the local railway station.
Daily Struggle for Survival
Munni Devi, 70, and her four sons start work at 4 a.m. loading vegetables in 30°C heat. 'Everyone feels the heat, but because of our circumstances, we have to bear it,' she says. Power outages leave homes without fans for hours, offering no respite. Her grandchildren are hosed down with water to cool off.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera notes Banda was the hottest spot on Earth seven times this year, mostly in April. The heat has caused birds to fall from the sky, prompting conservationist Shobharam Kashyap to install over 15,000 birdhouses across town.
Hospitals Overwhelmed
Dr. Abhishek Pranayami, head of Banda's hospital, reports a surge in patients with dehydration, diarrhea, and vomiting. 'Pressure is quite high on us and the staff,' he says. The hospital treats dozens daily, with corridors filled.
Nighttime Ordeal
Residents sleep on railway platforms and outside the station to escape homes that have absorbed heat all day. Children huddle around smartphones while parents struggle to sleep. 'Climate change is shifting the average,' says Abhiyant Tiwari of NRDC India. 'High nighttime temperatures prevent recovery.'
Government Response
District magistrate Amit Aasery says authorities have opened cooling centers and distributed oral rehydration kits, but acknowledges the limits: 'What is happening here is a global phenomenon. It is because of climate change.'
