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The capital of India, Delhi, is experiencing one of the worst heat waves in recent history. The temperature has reached a scorching 40.2°C, and people are struggling to deal with the heat that is sweeping the city. The chocking climate has caused unhappiness to crores with the scorching heat confining people to indoors at the moment of the day when the sun is at its peak.

as the city is on fire with the fiery heat, matters such as mounting pollution, global warming, and infrastructural woes have been feeding the fire. This article examines in more detail the heat wave that’s engulfing Delhi, its impact on day-to-day life, and how recent government actions, including the hike in excise duty on petrol, can contribute to the agony.

The Blistering Heatwave

Overnight temperature rise to 40.2°C is a world away from the weather Delhi has witnessed till date. March and early April are normally marked by warming up of temperatures, but this year the heat wave is arriving early and with more ferocity. To the common Delhiite, it is something that makes him or her anxious about the growing threat of climate change and environmental degradation. The temperatures have risen so high for such an extended period that they are dangerously near to being injurious, and people have started taking drastic measures.

The scorching winds that have been blowing across the city also made the weather intolerable. The warm temperature and strong winds have rendered the air extremely hot even during the morning. The people have been instructed by local authorities to consume lots of water, remain indoors during the heat, and wear loose, light clothing in a bid to counteract the impact of the heat.

The Effects on Everyday Life

Unpleasant as it is, this heatwave is also dangerous. Delhi air is more toxic with pollution adding to the heat to form a lethal combination. It can cause respiratory disease, dehydration, and heatstroke with long-term exposure, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions.

With every increase in temperature, already stressed wires in Delhi are subjected to additional stress. Air conditioning and cooling systems are operating at maximum capacity to render buildings and houses habitable, which leads to excessive energy usage and localized power outages. Road safety is also affected by the heatwave because risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration is heightened for pedestrians and road users.

Public transport then also becomes a pitiless option with the metro trains and bus providing scant relief from the temperature. The farmers in the area are also affected by the rise in heat. The crops are being put in peril to wither away with the lack of rain and record temperatures, leading to additional potential hike in the price of food fuel. To a country like India, where its economy is largely made up of agriculture, even a heat wave can pose a threat to the food security and the very survival system.

Govt Increases Excise Duty on Petrol

During this heatwave season, the Indian government has increased excise duty on petrol, and citizens are agitated. Although the step could be to increase government revenue, it will only make things worse for commuters already suffering from the heat.
Petrol prices have been rising for months now, and this excise duty increase is going to push them further.

In Delhi, where the cost level was already increasing with inflation, the increase in the cost of petrol and diesel will be most likely to raise the cost of transport. Residents of the city travel within the city in their own cars and, with a rise in the price of petrol, movement on a daily basis will become costly, considering the factor that traffic also depletes with overabundance of heat. The government action will be seen in the increase in commodity and service prices throughout the entire city. Transport cost like taxi cost and ride-sharing will increase, adding to the residents’ perception of the city even more.

For the urban working class, most of whom are commuters who travel by public transport, this increase in fuel prices can mean that a greater percentage of their salaries is spent on transport. In addition to the suffocating heat wave already exacerbating the issue, this pairing of increased cost and record breaking heat will also be experienced in the day-to-day life of Delhi residents. Ghibli Feature and Relief in Technology Life is still made impossible in Delhi due to the heat, but technology to the rescue by providing relief.

The Ghibli feature, a new technology which was recently launched in the majority of air conditioner and cooling appliances, has proved to be a lifesaver for the majority of the population in the city. Ghibli, with its energy-saving and quick temperature control facility, is being installed extensively in residential as well as commercial establishments to combat the heat wave. Ghibli technology operates by sucking in cold air in a room and recirculating it sparingly with less power than traditional cooling technology.

For a city like Delhi, where summer brings with it the disruption of regular power cuts and high-priced electricity, this technology is cutting costs and improving comfort levels for an awful lot of houses.
Its quick cooling of interior spaces has rendered it in high demand among individuals who must stay cool but must also keep an eye on power consumption as well.

Even though the Ghibli movie will not put an end to everything, it is a confidence booster in the fight against unrelenting heatwaves. For such individuals who are struggling to endure the scorchingly hot heat, employing energy-conserving techniques such as Ghibly is comfort from some of the pain brought by the suffocating heat.

Looking Ahead The current heatwave in Delhi is a grim reminder of how much still needs to be done on so many fronts. With temperatures still not budging, the state and people have no option but to join hands and make space for these new realities. Climate change is no longer a specter on the wall; it is here, and it is impacting millions of lives around the world.

The excise duty increase on petrol by the government as much as one detests it is an economic price to pay for maintaining a big urban population in the midst of unpredictable energy prices. In the meantime, innovations like the Ghibli feature provide daily guarantee of improved life regardless of such endemic weather.

For the people of Delhi, the forthcoming weeks can be tough with the heatwave persisting over the city. But with a bit of government intervention, some technological advances, and the collective initiative of the masses, there could be a chance of making life under such exceptionally high weather conditions more tolerable. The heatwave could be unkind, but so is the city’s resolve, and so shall this pass.