As winter envelops Delhi, people seek refuge at night at railway stations
New Delhi: As the nation’s capital experiences a frigid wave, some residents are compelled to seek food, shelter, and some warmth in night shelters in order to survive the chilly night. In a number of northern Indian states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and others, the India Meteorological Department has issued a cold wave warning.
The IMD reports that on December 15 and 16, the lowest temperature in some parts of Delhi was 5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the agency has predicted that fog would cover certain locations for the next three days.
In the meanwhile, many night shelters located across the capital provide some individuals with a reprieve from the cold.
The caretaker at one of the shelters close to AIIMS Delhi, Vicky Kanojia, explained how certain individuals who need assistance in recuperating from sickness and injuries and lack a support network are sent to the shelter.
Since this is a night and recovery shelter, anybody who is homeless, traveling, or hospitalized and has no one to look after them is brought here to get well. Here, we provide individuals with food and medication in an ambulance. They have tea in the morning and meals in the afternoon and evening. They are given blankets and a bed,” Kanojia said.
A longtime resident of one of the night shelters, Sabho, welcomed the fact that they get blankets, food, drink, and other necessities every night to keep them warm. She and her two children reside at the shelter.
“I’ve lived here with my family, including my two children, for the last eight years. I get to remain here, eat, and have a blanket. I also get to take a bath and use the restroom,” Sabho told the media.
The amenities that are accessible to the public were underlined by Rishi Kumar Mehta, the custodian of another shelter in Sarai Kale Khan. “They get a bed, blanket, water, tea, cookies, food, and everything else every day. Everybody has a bed of their own, complete with a covering.
Regarding medical services, he said that there is a mohalla clinic nearby and that an ambulance is used to transport the patient to AIIMS if the condition is a bit more critical.
Some individuals who are unable to find refuge for themselves find solace in searching for a place on a train platform, while others attempt to find warmth by keeping fires going all night.
Mukesh, who lives close to the Old Delhi train station, discussed how he finds it difficult to fall asleep at night without enough warmth.
“We build a fire at night to warm our hands since it’s so chilly, and I work all day. He told the media. I, “I just make a fire and get through the night because I don’t get proper sleep at night.”
Pradeep, another resident near the train station, described how hard it is for him to survive the chilly night.
“Somehow, we are making it through, and I continue to keep on course. I’m only attempting to warm my hands while walking through. All I have to do is remain and work here. No sleeping arrangements are in place. We continue even if the quality of the job has decreased,” he remarked.
