Govt to increase cooling zones, mobile heat relief units amid heatwave surge

New Delhi: The number of cooling zones and mobile relief facilities is set to increase further this week as the Delhi govt expands its heatwave response measures amid continuing severe weather conditions in the capital.At present, 14 cooling zones are operational across the city, including five in Old Delhi, five in East Delhi and one each in the North East, North, Central and Central North districts. Officials said similar facilities will be started in the remaining districts this week.The govt said relief efforts already reached lakhs of people across all 13 districts between May 6 and May 23. The campaign focused on providing immediate relief to labourers and other vulnerable groups exposed to extreme heat.Chief minister Rekha Gupta said the govt was working “with full sensitivity” to ensure that no citizen suffers because of the heat.According to govt figures, around 1,13,900 litres of cold drinking water were distributed during the period, along with more than one lakh ORS packets. At least 44,646 gamchas and 30,864 caps were also distributed.Officials said the highest outreach under the campaign was recorded in the North East, East, South West and New Delhi districts.

The locations of mobile heat relief unit vehicles are also being changed daily to cover crowded areas. The campaign will continue till July.Each cooling zone has a seating capacity for 100 people and is equipped with cold drinking water, desert coolers, high-speed fans, ORS packets, caps, gamchas and first-aid kits. Ten civil defence volunteers have been deployed at every site to assist people.