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How people in Banda, India, cope on its hottest days
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Banda, a town in northern India, has experienced some of the country's highest temperatures in 2023, reaching up to 48.2°C (118.8°F), with heat waves exacerbated by global warming causing severe daily challenges for residents.
- Many residents, including laborers like Munni Devi and her family, endure intense heat while working early mornings and face unreliable electricity, limiting their ability to use fans or cooling devices at home.
- Animal lover Shobharam Kashyap has installed over 15,000 birdhouses and water bowls across Banda to help birds cope with the harsh heat, continuing traditional practices of caring for animals.
- Hospitals in Banda see a surge in heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heatstroke, and gastrointestinal issues during hotter months, putting significant strain on medical staff and resources.
- At night, many residents sleep outdoors or in open, breezy places like the railway station to escape the heat trapped inside their homes, highlighting the persistent struggle for relief amid rising temperatures linked to climate change.
