The severe heat waves in India since April have posed significant challenges for the country’s essential workers. Many of these workers are forced to weigh health concerns against financial necessities.

In New Delhi, vendors have been using large umbrellas to create shade at a flea market near Jama Masjid, a well-known mosque. Auto-rickshaw driver Sunil Rastogi finds himself in a difficult situation. He usually works 12-hour shifts to provide for his family and save for heart surgery. However, the rising temperatures surpassing 100 degrees create a dilemma. Should he reduce his work hours, bringing less income home and risking delays in his medical treatment, or should he continue at the same pace and jeopardize his fragile health?

“I feel tired as it is,” Mr. Rastogi stated last week. “This heat makes me even more tired.”

Mr. Rastogi’s predicament is shared by millions who depend on daily wages. These include construction workers, street vendors, and delivery drivers. The sweltering heat in New Delhi compels them to make hard choices between maintaining their health and earning a living. These workers are crucial to the functioning of the city but are heavily impacted by its extreme weather conditions.

The Center for Science and Environment, based in New Delhi, reports that the surface temperature of the ground can soar to 140 degrees during peak heat. Under such conditions, the tarmac softens, posing risks to workers like Rastogi who may face blistering feet.

Images from the area show Rastogi and others striving to balance their health needs with their economic reality. Some find relief by drinking soft drinks at local stalls.