Amid an intensifying heatwave across Punjab, a coalition of NGOs, civil society groups, and religious institutions has established a network of community cooling zones and heat-relief shelters to protect gig workers, daily-wage earners, commuters, and other vulnerable residents from extreme temperatures. The initiative, coordinated under the banner of organisations including Saanjh Punjab, Eco Sewa, Kendriya Sikh Sabha, and Gurudwara Sahib in Patiala, is being rolled out in coordination with local authorities across the state.

Key Developments

The Municipal Corporation of Amritsar, alongside Eco Sewa and Saanjh Punjab, jointly inaugurated a heatwave shelter at Sadar Chowk in Amritsar. The shelter was formally opened by Yogesh Arora, Medical Officer of Health (MOH). Built using an eco-friendly bamboo structure with bamboo screening, the facility provides shade, drinking water, and rest space for pedestrians and commuters.

A separate heatwave shelter has been set up by the Gram Panchayat of Jagdev Kalan in Amritsar district, extending the initiative's reach to rural areas. Eco Sewa members present at the inauguration included Nidhi Sindhwani, Minakshi Khanna, Ridhi Khanna, Samriti Kapoor, Manik Chhina, Jasmine Gill, Harveen, and Deepti Khanna.

Where Cooling Zones Have Been Set Up

Additional cooling and resting spaces have been established at the office of Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Sector 28, Chandigarh, offering shaded seating and drinking water for workers and commuters. Further facilities have been created at Gurdwara Parmeshwar Dwar in Shekhupur, Patiala. Organisers have confirmed that additional cooling zones are planned for Patiala and Amritsar in the coming weeks.

What Organisers Said

Gurpreet Singh of Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha said the Sikh tradition places great emphasis on 'seva' and caring for humanity. He noted that as heatwaves become more severe, providing drinking water, shade, and a place to rest is a practical way to protect people's health and dignity.

Nidhi Sindhwani of Eco Sewa said environmental action should directly benefit people, adding that heat shelters, tree cover, and public cooling spaces are 'simple interventions that can make cities more livable while helping communities adapt to rising temperatures.'

Gurpreet Kaur of Clean Air Punjab described extreme heat as one of the most significant climate risks facing Punjab's residents, calling community cooling zones a 'low-cost, high-impact measure' to reduce heat stress and protect vulnerable populations.

Broader Significance

Saanjh Punjab — a citizens' network focused on agriculture, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability across Punjab — has been facilitating collaboration among the community groups and institutions involved. Organisers hope the model will encourage wider partnerships between religious institutions, civil society, and government agencies to build long-term resilience to extreme heat. This comes amid growing concern over climate-linked heatwave frequency across northwest India, where temperatures have repeatedly broken seasonal records in recent years.