India Heat Relief: Portable Shelter for Workers
- A portable shelter designed to provide shade and relief from extreme heat is gaining attention in India.
- Organizer Kanishk Kabiraj emphasized the importance of creating tangible models to address the health and economic challenges posed by rising temperatures.
- Made from metal, fiber-reinforced plastic, and plywood, the shelter costs approximately $175.
The Neralu shelter, a groundbreaking portable design, offers critical respite for India’s outdoor workers facing extreme heat, a crucial step as the country battles rising temperatures. This innovative shelter, unveiled at the Sweat and Concrete 2025 event, provides shade, seating, and even a manual fan, all within a low-cost, easily transportable structure. A collaborative effort, the shelter uses local materials and addresses notable job losses predicted by 2030 due to the escalating heat. The initiative highlights the immediate need for interventions as India grapples with climate change impacts, showcasing a model for other heat-stressed regions. Learn how public and private organizations are now embracing this urgent, adaptable solution. In bengaluru, the Indian Meteorological Department reports rising extreme heat days, meaning the portable shelter is an immediate priority to protect those most vulnerable.Discover what’s next in this vital field.
Portable Shelter Offers Respite from India’s Extreme Heat
Updated June 7, 2025
A portable shelter designed to provide shade and relief from extreme heat is gaining attention in India. The Neralu shelter, meaning “shade” in Kannada, was showcased at the Sweat and Concrete 2025 event in Bengaluru. The exhibition highlighted the dangers of extreme heat for outdoor workers and explored potential solutions.
Organizer Kanishk Kabiraj emphasized the importance of creating tangible models to address the health and economic challenges posed by rising temperatures. The Neralu shelter, designed by Ankritya Diggavi and Sagar Kandal, features a lightweight frame with a shade, bench, and manually operated fan.
Made from metal, fiber-reinforced plastic, and plywood, the shelter costs approximately $175. Weighing 33 pounds, it can accommodate up to four people and is easily transported and installed. The designers drew inspiration from makeshift solutions already used by outdoor workers,such as umbrellas and tarpaulin sheets.
Madhe Gowda, a fruit seller, noted the shelter’s potential to protect both workers and produce from the heat. the designers envision the shelter being constructed from recycled materials and adapted to suit local needs.
Interest in the Neralu shelter has come from both public and private organizations. The Indian Meteorological Department has reported an increase in extreme heat days in Bengaluru, attributed to climate change and urbanization. As more Indian states develop climate adaptation plans, the shelter could serve as a low-cost solution for heat-stressed cities.
Tamanna Dalal, a heat policy researcher, highlighted the role of urban heat islands in exacerbating the problem. She emphasized the need for easily replicable shelters that consider local climate factors. India is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with significant economic losses and job losses projected due to increasing heat.
“This kind of shelter will be helpful for people like us who work outdoors,” said Madhe Gowda, a 62-year-old fruit seller.
What’s next
With rising awareness of climate change and its impact on vulnerable populations,expect to see further development and deployment of innovative solutions like the Neralu shelter to combat extreme heat and protect outdoor workers in India and other heat-stressed regions.