Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday flagged off 13 ‘Mobile Heat Relief Unit’ vans, one in each district, and announced a campaign — ‘Garmi Se Jung, Delhi Sarkar Ke Sang’ — to provide citizens with timely relief and protection from heatwaves.
Ms. Gupta also released a ‘Heat Action Plan 2026’ booklet containing measures to prevent heat-related ailments.
“Each van is equipped with a cold water tank with capacity of 400 to 500 litres, first-aid kits, ORS, and other essential relief materials. The units will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in high-footfall and heat-prone areas such as labour chowks, bus stands, markets, slum clusters and other vulnerable locations across the city,” read a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Additionally, 10 civil defence volunteers have been deployed in each district to support the campaign over the next three months. The government aims to distribute around 1,000 ORS packets, 300 cotton towels and 200 caps every day.
Ms. Gupta said, “This year’s Heat Action Plan has been implemented with extensive preparation and coordination, keeping every section of society in mind. Special focus has been placed on protecting vulnerable groups such as daily wage labourers, construction workers, street vendors, homeless people, senior citizens, women and children.”
She added that the government is taking comprehensive, people-centric measures to deal with the growing threat of heatwaves. She said the drive against heat reflects the government’s commitment towards the health and safety of the citizens.
Special guidelines
“The government has issued special guidelines for outdoor and construction workers. Public and private institutions have been advised to halt outdoor labour activities between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and ensure adequate rest breaks during peak heat hours,” said the CM.
Last year’s Heat Action Plan emphasised cool roofing technology, which entails applying a reflective coating such as solar-reflective paint or tiles on rooftops to deflect heat and reduce indoor temperature. However, pilot projects under it are yet to be completed, said sources.