Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has unveiled the Heat Wave Action Plan 2026, featuring ORS for schoolchildren, cool rooms in hospitals, and safety measures for construction workers. The plan comes as the capital recorded a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 3.1 notches above the seasonal average.
The Delhi government has rolled out comprehensive measures under its Heat Wave Action Plan 2026 to tackle rising temperatures. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the plan emphasizes protecting vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren and construction workers. Officials said schoolchildren may receive ORS before leaving school to prevent dehydration during commutes.
More than 30 hospitals have set up dedicated five-bed 'cool rooms' for heatwave patients. The Health Department has placed 339 health centres across 13 districts on alert. High-pressure misting systems will be installed at bus stops, and anti-smog guns will cool densely built-up areas. Reflective coating covers nearly 28,674 square feet at Kashmere Gate ISBT to lower indoor temperatures.
Construction sites will provide drinking water, caps, gamchas, first-aid kits, and ice packs. Workers may halt outdoor work from noon to 3 pm during severe heatwaves, the CM directed. Satellite data identified thermal hotspots including Ayanagar, which hit 45.5 degrees Celsius earlier, Najafgarh, and Safdarjung.
Water points for stray animals and birds are being installed in parks, bus depots, and schools. Residents can call helplines 1077, 1070, or 112 for help, with 39 quick response teams and ASHA workers on standby. Peak power demand could exceed 9,000 MW this summer, up from 8,442 MW last year, prompting strict directives for uninterrupted supply to hospitals, water treatment plants, and mobile towers.
