Storytelling by adolescent fellows
Case Studies
Topics: Public Spaces & Urban Environments
The Adolescent Fellows in the YKA project have written their first stories on their experience in conducting transect walks of their communities to understand the daily climate linked challenges faced. This story is about the increasing heat in Indore.
The Heat We Could Feel
When we think about summer in Indore, we usually imagine vacations, cold drinks, and mangoes. But over the past few years, summer has started feeling very different. The heat now feels harsher, heavier, and much more exhausting. Roads stay hot for hours, stepping outside in the afternoon feels draining, and even the nights no longer feel properly cool.
I truly understood the seriousness of this issue when I became a part of the Heat Mapping Programme organized by Mahila Housing Trust in collaboration with Indore Municipal Corporation. As members of the Indore Climate League and being connected with SHEDO Sansthan, we got the opportunity to work closely on understanding how rising temperatures are affecting different parts of the city.
The programme aimed to identify urban heat hotspots and study how different areas experience heat differently. Our team covered 15 routes across Indore and recorded temperatures at three different time slots – 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM, 7 PM to 8 PM, and 10 PM to 11 PM. What surprised us the most was that in many places, the temperature remained almost the same even during the night. It was shocking to see how the city continues to trap heat for hours.
During our observations, we also noticed a clear difference between areas filled with greenery and areas surrounded by concrete buildings, traffic, and crowded streets. Places with trees felt cooler and more breathable, while heavily built-up areas felt much hotter and uncomfortable. These small observations made us realize how deeply urbanization and climate change are impacting everyday life.
For me, this experience was much more than just collecting temperature data. It changed the way I look at my city and made me understand that climate change is no longer a distant issue – it is something we experience daily. Being part of this programme taught me the importance of awareness, sustainable development, and creating greener spaces to build a healthier and more climate-resilient Indore for the future.
The featured image is for representation purposes only.