Atul Howale

The Yamuna in the national capital feels like a dead river these days.

This was my third visit to Kalindi Kunj Ghat in Delhi on May 15 2026, to report on the condition of the Yamuna. The scene this time was completely different from what I witnessed in October 2025, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.

Back then, the Delhi government had made major arrangements at the same spot. The ghat looked clean, authorities’ boats were active on the river, and efforts were visibly being made to remove the thick layer of white toxic foam floating on the water.

But now, the picture of the Yamuna has changed again. Garbage is scattered everywhere. Plastic bottles and other waste can be seen floating in the river. The thick white toxic foam is still visible, though its intensity has reduced compared to earlier months.

The boats are now lying shut on the riverbank. Not a single boat is operational anymore. With no major event or political attention around the river, the activity has almost disappeared.

For this report, I got help from my good friend and Ambedkar University student, Ranjeet Prabhu, who worked as a cameraperson during the shoot. His support helped us capture better visuals and strengthen the overall report.

Last month, during the intense heatwave in the national capital, temperatures touched nearly 45 degrees. While most of us preferred to stay indoors and avoid stepping into the scorching heat, one section of society continued running on the streets to deliver our orders, fulfil our everyday needs and earn a living. They are the gig workers of this country.

As a journalist, I have lived in Delhi for almost four and a half years, and I know how difficult the summer can be. Whether you are working in the afternoon or at night, the intensity of the heat remains almost the same.

While working on this story, I started talking to delivery partners whenever I ordered something. I would always ask them about their earnings, their work and how they managed to travel across the city in such extreme heat.

It all started with conversations outside different delivery outlets and with delivery partners from different companies.

One rider in Jasola, Delhi, told me, "You can do any job, but don't do this job in Delhi."

Those words stayed with me. I couldn't stop thinking about what he had said. That's when I decided that, for this story, I would become a delivery partner myself and experience the job during the heatwave.

For this investigation, I went from being Journalist Atul to Delivery Partner Atul.

I registered as a delivery partner on Zepto, Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart. Within a few hours, my registration was approved, and I was out on Delhi's streets delivering orders in the middle of the heatwave.

Over the next four days, I delivered groceries across different parts of the city at different times of the day, from morning until midnight. I spent time at outlets in Kalkaji, Jasola, Karol Bagh and other locations. I spoke to riders, waited with them for orders and experienced a small part of what their daily lives look like.

Many gig workers are facing serious challenges during the heatwave.

Some told me they don't even have access to cold drinking water. They can buy a bottle of water, but when every rupee matters, even spending ₹20 becomes difficult. It wasn't just about water. Many riders also spoke about the lack of basic facilities such as clean washrooms, proper rest areas and cooling arrangements. During my reporting and investigation, I also experienced the same.

The reporting revealed stories of long working hours, shrinking earnings, rising fuel costs, students working to pay their college fees, workers supporting their families and the physical toll of working in extreme heat.

This story reminded me that journalism is at its best when it goes beyond interviews and spends time where people live and work.

A big thank you to my friend Ranjeet, whose support throughout this reporting made this investigation possible.