As Delhi braces for a blistering summer, Tihar Jail has rolled out its seasonal plan to help over 19,000 inmates endure the rising temperatures. The India Meteorological Department has already issued a yellow warning, with temperatures expected to cross 40°C this week.
To beat the heat, each prisoner will receive two lemons daily for three months—April, May, and June—to stay hydrated. Additionally, Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) have been stocked in bulk. Jail officials said heat-resistant roofing sheets are being installed in cells to regulate temperatures and improve air circulation.
“These sheets help bring down cell temperature by a few degrees,” a senior official explained, stressing that all measures are aligned with the Tihar Jail manual.
Tihar, set up in 1958, now operates across 16 facilities, far exceeding its designed capacity of around 10,000. Some jails, like Jail No. 4, house over three times their intended number of inmates. Despite the crowding, officials insist no inmate receives special treatment—except for seniors above 60, who are monitored daily by doctors.
Cold water isn’t freely available, but can be purchased from canteens. Only on medical or court instructions is cold or hot water officially provided.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has allocated ₹10 crore in the 2025–26 budget to begin plans for relocating Tihar Jail to the outskirts, citing chronic overcrowding.