Health or hunger in the killer heat


A cyclist protecting his face and neck from the intense sunlight in New Delhi, on May 29. — Anindito Mukherjee/The New York Times

SUNIL Rastogi, an auto-rickshaw driver in New Delhi, normally works 12-hour days to make ends meet and save for the heart surgery he needs. But in summer, as temperatures climb above 37°C, he faces a dilemma.

Should he work fewer hours, bringing home less for his family and delaying his surgery, or press ahead and risk worsening his fragile health?

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