Even as the Delhi government is adopting various measures to provide relief to the citizens from severe heat in the national capital, the Old Delhi district administration on Saturday set up a cooling zone near the Jama Masjid under its “Heat-wave Action Plan”.
The tent-like structure has been installed to provide relief and comfort to the people while they venture out amid rising temperatures.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government’s objective is not only to put arrangements in place but also deliver tangible relief directly to the people. She noted that markets, religious places, and tourist hubs witness heavy footfall during the summer months, making densely populated areas like Old Delhi particularly vulnerable during extreme heat conditions.
Gupta noted that the cooling zone has been created as a relief facility, separate from the mobile heat relief vehicles, that are already operating across the districts in the city.
Notably, the cooling zone, allows around 70 to 80 people to rest at a time, offering much-needed respite to commuters, tourists, rickshaw pullers, labourers, senior citizens and passersby under the scorching heat.
The CM said continuous access to cold drinking water has been ensured through water coolers at the site. In addition, ORS-mixed water is also being provided to help people stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke and dehydration.
She further said that her government is working on a multi-layered strategy to tackle the heatwave situation, which includes relief measures across districts, improved drinking water availability, public awareness campaigns and special arrangements in sensitive areas.
The CM informed that with the temperatures expected to rise further in the days to come, all departments concerned have been directed to remain on alert.
These cooling zones have been equipped with coolers, seating arrangement and other such amenities to make people feel comfortable, while staff from the government will also be available to assist people.