Ramkrishna Dutta, 65, retired meteorologist
There were large wetlands around my house in Beleghata in north Calcutta. It used to be breezy. Even 25 years ago, we would close the windows at night as the house would get very cold. But now there are hardly any air channels. Concrete structures, highrises block the air passages. The wetlands have disappeared. The atmosphere retains a lot of moisture. The moisture in turn stores heat, thus increasing the temperature around us.
Latifar Rahman Laskar, 22, daily wager
I take the local train from Canning to Calcutta at 5.30 in the morning. On my way back at 5 in the evening, I take a bath in the pond close to the Baghajatin railway station and then wrap the wet gamchha around my bare body and over my pants. I try and find a space near the gate of the compartment. My house in Dariyabazar is made of tin. It is more comfortable to lie under a tree than to stay indoors.
Laborers step out each day to toil under the scorching sun, striving tirelessly to earn their daily bread. Picture by Sanat Kr Sinha
Nasim Ali, 62, rickshaw puller
I stop at roadside taps and wet my head at least five times a day.
Mohit Pramanik, 26, bike-taxi driver
I start work at 7am after having a glass of sattu. But post noon, I cannot drive around much. It is difficult to keep the helmet on. I tie a cloth around my head, which I change every hour. The pollution and the heat from the vehicles make driving pretty unbearable.
A cobbler on the street braves the scorching summer heat, just to make a living. Picture by Sanat Kr Sinha.
Raja Kumar, 30, ice cream seller
It’s not all that hot where I am. Have you seen the tea sellers? They have to stand by a bhatti all day.
Mohammed Taheer, 28, coolie
Working in the heat is a habit. If I had to work in an air-conditioned environment, I would have fallen ill.
Sealdah market. Scorching Calcutta summer, 2025. Photo: Sanat Kumar Sinha
Sanchita Dey, 40, dog lover
In residential areas, someone or the other looks after stray dogs. But in non-residential areas, such as the central Calcutta office paras and north Calcutta markets, strays suffer a lot. They often don’t get enough water, food or shelter. Many suffer instant heat stroke. Sometimes, dogs will slip under cars for shelter. Drivers often don’t check and run them over
Scorching Calcutta summer, 2025. Photo: Sanat Kumar Sinha
Shyam Dolui, 52, fruitseller
In this heat, I feel like poultry.