In Pics: Delhi's Record-Breaking Heatwave

Photostory: Delhi suffers at 49C as heatwave sweeps India.

A little boy enjoying water spray from a leaking pipe in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

(Photo: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint/Aroop Mishra)

In the last few weeks, the temperatures in Delhi have risen to record-setting levels. The India Meteorological Department had forecast heatwaves in various regions of Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. Orange alert has been issued in some part of Uttar Pradesh as the mercury touched 49 degrees Celsius.

A lady walking down the lanes of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

No matter the heat, work continues.

The day-to-day life continues as people could be seen going to work, tourists visiting historical sites, and the market bustling with shoppers.

Tourists near India Gate.

A man walking down the road, looking visibly annoyed with the heat.

The photographers at India Gate start their work everyday at around 10 am and continue till 7 pm, earning Rs 400-500 per day.

Tourist photographers Ravi Kumar Yadav from Kotla and Kamal Singh from Sadra.

A group of photographers in front of India Gate. 

Even in this blistering heat, the work for Central Vista project continues. Labourers, guards, gardeners, and officials can be seen working around the area.

Sunil Kumar, 25, one of the workers on the Central Vista project, says that he has been working for two months, in 12-hour shifts. Though it is tough to handle the heat, he has no choice. Kumar, from Allahabad, earns only Rs 12,000 per month.

Sunil Kumar, worker at the Central Vista project.

Labourers of the Central Vista project.

The guards taking rest under the shade. 

New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) workers, who are responsible for maintaining the roads of Rashtrapati Bhavan area, break for lunch.

Mandir Singh, who is a section officer of Shram Shakti Bhawan (Ministry of Labour and Employment) says that even though they are aware of the plight of the workers who are working in this heat, all are under the system.

Mandir Singh, Section Officer, Ministry of Labour and Employment

Marak Singh, Security Guard, Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation.

Marak Singh, one of the security guards of Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation, who works on the 10 am to 2 pm shift every day, said that the heat is gradually becoming unbearable for him.

Durbesh Kumar, who hails from Sukurpur, works from 8 am till 5 pm daily as a roadside worker. He rests under the shade of a tree after wrapping up his lunch.

Red Fort area sees more crowd than India Gate or any other tourist spot in Delhi. The free water service has given some relief to the visitors. But the dust storms keep worsening the situation.

Asma Khatun on a tour of the Red Fort.

Visitors fill water amidst the rush.

Surji Rao, along with his family, has come from Maharashtra to tour Delhi for 15 days.

A little boy trying to fill water along with other visitors. Poster reads: Free Water Service.

Two busy shopping spots of Delhi, Sarojini Nagar and Connaught place, were crowded as usual.

People enjoying chuski at Sarojini Nagar Market.

Baby Maan having ice cream with his  mother and aunty.

One of the visitors of the Sarojini Nagar Market.

A mother giving water to his son at Connaught Place.

One of the NDMC workers, Ajay, who looks after one of the parking areas of Connaught Place, says he works all day, and more often than not, he has to work post midnight, till all the cars are cleared.

"Kaam hai to karna hai," says NDMC worker Ajay.

Sanjay Kumar from Shakti Nagar, who runs an Ola auto as well as a metered auto, works for 12 hours. He carries two bottles of cold water every day and offers them to passengers as well.

Sanjay Kumar, auto driver.

Due to increase in global warming, the heatwave will continue to rise. Every year, Delhi and other North Indian states, face such humidity. Even though no one can be expected to get used to such heat, they'll do what they know best – survive.

A visitor in Connaught Place, paying for water from a sikanjiwala.