NEW DELHI: With temperatures falling in Delhi on Monday night, residents sought shelter at various night shelters throughout the capital city.
The India Meteorological Department registered a temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius in Delhi at 2.30am on Tuesday.
At a night shelter in Lodhi Road, a caretaker reported accommodating 20 people despite having only 19 beds, with arrangements made for the extra person. The facility provides hot water and meals to those in need.
“Here we have beds, mattresses, bed sheets, pillows, blankets. There is a machine for hot water, there is a television. Facilities like fans and coolers are also there. We have 19 beds and if there are one or two people extra then we adjust according to it. In the morning tea is provided. In the afternoon lunch, rice and pulses are provided. In dinner rotis and vegetables are provided,” he said.
He further mentioned that in case someone falls ill at night, an ambulance is called to transport the patient to the hospital.
“In day time if anyone gets unwell then there is a small hospital in the nearby temple where they are taken,” he said.
A female guard stated that 15 to 16 women reside there permanently.
“Here we provide food both the time and give breakfast in the morning. There is a hot water facility, television, and coolers are provided during summer. Medicines and CCTV cameras are also in place,” she added.
The India Meteorological Department has issued alerts for cold wave conditions across several north Indian regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and additional states.
Whilst Delhi experiences a cold wave, air quality has deteriorated, with the Air Quality Index exceeding 400, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Due to the worsening air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee implemented Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect on Monday night.
