Homeless face early chill and dengue spike as govt rushes to ready shelters

With weather agencies warning of an early and harsh winter due to the La Nina effect, Delhi’s homeless population finds itself caught between biting cold and a rising wave of dengue and malaria cases. On the city’s pavements and under flyovers, thousands are bracing for sleepless nights.

- AIMAN FATIMA

At a dimly lit corner near Govindpuri, 48-year-old Surya Kumar wraps himself in a tattered shawl. “It's only October, but the cold has started,” he said. “We're used to sleeping out here, but this time, the chill and mosquitoes have made it worse. There are not enough shelters, even when people will start shifting to shelter homes most will be full before we even reach.”