Cooling zone near Jama Masjid set up under heat-wave action plan

Even as the Rekha Gupta Government is adopting various measures to provide relief to the citizens from severe heat in the national capital, a cooling zone near the Jama Masjid has been set up under its “Heat-wave Action Plan”.

The tent-like structure has been installed to provide relief and comfort to the people while they venture out amid rising temperatures. The facility allows around 70 to 80 people to sit and rest at a time, offering much-needed respite to commuters, tourists, rickshaw pullers, labourers, senior citizens and passersby affected by the scorching heat.

The cooling zones or camps, managed with the support of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority and Civil Defence volunteers, are helping people cope with the intense summer conditions.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said continuous access to chilled drinking water has been arranged through water coolers at the site. In addition, ORS-mixed water is also being provided to help people stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke and dehydration.

The chief minister said her Government’s objective is not only to put arrangements in place but also deliver tangible relief directly to the people. She noted that markets, religious places, and tourist hubs witness heavy footfall during the summer months, making densely populated areas like Old Delhi particularly vulnerable during extreme heat conditions.

Keeping this in mind, the cooling zone has been created as a permanent relief facility, separate from the mobile heat relief vehicles already operating in the city.

In the statement, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that officials have been instructed to identify the other high-footfall areas across the Capital, where similar facilities can be established.

The Government’s objective is not merely to put arrangements in place, but to deliver tangible relief directly to the people, she said.

She further said the Delhi Government is working on a multi-layered strategy to tackle the heatwave situation. This includes relief measures across districts, improved drinking water availability, public awareness campaigns and special arrangements in sensitive areas. With temperatures expected to rise further in the coming days, all concerned departments have been directed to remain on alert.

The Chief Minister also appealed to residents to take necessary precautions during peak afternoon hours, drink sufficient water and make use of the relief facilities being provided by the Government wherever required.