India, May 23 -- As Delhi sweltered through another day of extreme temperatures on Friday, thousands of workers across the city continued their shifts outdoors. By early afternoon, the pavement outside Dilli Haat began to simmer in the heat. A few visitors hurried past with scarves wrapped around their faces, but most stalls stood empty. Under a cloth canopy, 60-year-old Gomti adjusted the end of her sari over her head and waited for customers who rarely come before sunset in summer.

A plastic bottle filled with warm water sat beside her jewellery display. "When my head starts heating up too much, I use my sari to cover it as I cannot afford any new clothes," she told HT.

On Friday, Delhi recorded a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. Ho...