As the scorching sun beat down on his fruit cart, Mohammad Ikrar dreaded another day of tossing out dozens of rotting mangoes and melons — a regular practice now as India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave.
The 38-year-old does not own a refrigerator, meaning his fruit quickly spoils. By the end of the day, any leftover produce is usually only good to be fed to passing stray cows.
Since April, Ikrar said he has lost up to 3,000 rupees ($39) a week — nearly half of his average weekly earnings.