SINCE moving into a public housing project in Mumbai nearly 20 years ago, Parveen Shaikh has grown familiar with the ravages of extreme heat. She has acquired a new vocabulary, adding terms like “low blood pressure” — which she has learned is a consequence of blood vessels dilating to keep the body cool and causes dizziness, vomiting and irritability. “Little kids,” she observes, “get angry faster than they used to.” …
Reporting for this story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. It first appeared in Knowable Magazine on 9 June 2026. To continue reading, click here.