India has been experiencing a historic heat wave since May, with temperatures in New Delhi crossing 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) on some days. The extreme weather has claimed over 100 lives, and about 40,000 suspected cases of heatstroke have been registered across the country. Last week, the government issued an advisory, urging citizens to avoid going outdoors between noon and 3 p.m., the hottest time of the day.

But for the thousands of Indians who work as delivery riders, that’s not an option. Gig workers are among those most affected by the abnormally high temperatures as they often work long hours outdoors, with few formal places to find shelter or rest.

In New Delhi, India’s capital and the world’s second-most populous city, gig workers use motorcycles, bicycles, or rickshaws for work, which offer little protection from the elements. “I drive an average of 100 kilometers on most days,” said Anil, a 35-year-old delivery rider who works for bike-taxi apps Uber and Rapido. “I usually try to work early in the morning and then late evening.” While working during the day, he has been covering his head with a bandana under the helmet to absorb sweat.

Rest of World sent two photographers out on the streets of Delhi to capture the effects of the extreme weather on gig workers.

Here’s what they saw.

A photograph showing a man wiping his face with a cloth, walking and buildings with cores hanging from them in a busy urban environment.
Nipun Prabhakar
A photograph of a man seated on a motorbike, with his helmet on his arm, on the side of the road.
Ishan Tankha
A photograph showing a man walking in front of a large truck misting water along a road in an urban environment.
Nipun Prabhakar
A photograph showing people drinking from water buckets setup in the street in a busy urban environment.
Nipun Prabhakar

Laddu Singh, a 35-year-old Uber driver, told Rest of World that he has to drive his rickshaw in the extreme heat due to financial constraints. “I only got a quarter of the rides during the heat wave compared to what I usually get,” Singh said, adding that he drinks at least 10 liters of water a day and eats half as much as usual because the heat suppresses his appetite.

A photograph showing a man from behind, seated in the driver's seat of a rickshaw on a busy street.
Nipun Prabhakar

Devender Kumar, a food delivery worker for Swiggy, has lately been busier than usual. He drives almost 200 kilometers each day “because no one likes cooking in the kitchen or going out to eat in such extreme conditions,” he told Rest of World.

Kumar refills his bottle at restaurants, hotels, and sometimes even banks. “In high-end societies, they have water coolers near the guard’s room, so we get chilled water,” he said, adding that customers don’t usually offer water to delivery workers despite the heat.

Kumar is most worried about the health risks of direct sun exposure. He wears two layers of clothing to protect himself from the sun despite the risk of overheating. “If we expose our skin to the sun, it develops red rashes that can last forever and cost a lot to treat,” Singh said.

A close photograph of a man wearing an orange shirt, with a cloth around his neck, drinking from a silver and purple water bottle as water runs down his neck from his mouth.
Nipun Prabhakar
A photograph showing a person wearing a backpack with black pants and an orange shirt, scaling an iron fence in an urban environment.
Nipun Prabhakar
A photograph showing a person riding a motorbike down a tight alleyway in a city.
Nipun Prabhakar

Over the past three months, Swiggy has set up 900 “recharge zones” where any food delivery worker can rest, use the washrooms, and find beverages. “All Swiggy delivery partners have access to a free, rapid-response ambulance service,” a company spokesperson told Rest of World.

Zomato, another popular food delivery company, has 450 “rest points” where any gig worker can rest, drink water, and use the washroom, a company spokesperson said. The company plans to distribute 500,000 packs of refreshments, juices, and glucose at these points. 

A photograph of an urban environment, showing two men loading water containers onto a metal cart.
Ishan Tankha
A photo showing a woman in nurse clothing standing in front of two large, white tubs in a hospital room. On the wall behind her is a large sign that reads
Ishan Tankha
A photograph showing a few people on the side of a highway near a public water tap.
Nipun Prabhakar

Zomato said it also offers its delivery workers an in-patient department insurance cover of 100,000 rupees ($1,200) and covers up to 5,000 rupees for professional medical support.