As Blistering Heat Engulfs India, Air Conditioning Brings Respite but Comes at a Cost

Under the scorching sun, Ramesh toiled away, laying bricks, trying to ignore the beads of sweat rolling down his back. At 34 years old, he was used to labouring under India's relentless heat.

But this summer felt different. The temperatures in Delhi, where Ramesh lives with his extended family, topped 40°C daily. He started feeling faint while working, his body seemingly unable to bear the extreme heat.

When he got home each evening, his elderly parents, young children, and siblings all complained of headaches, dizziness, and nausea - clear signs of heat exhaustion.

Desperate for relief, Ramesh made a difficult financial decision - he borrowed money to purchase a second-hand air conditioner. Though noisy and dusty, that AC was the only way his family could cope as temperatures soared outside their crowded home.

Ramesh's experience demonstrates the paradox India faces as climate change intensifies. By 2050, India will be one of the first places where temperatures routinely exceed survivability limits, scientists warn.