Kanpur workers in India’s leather hub are laboring more slowly and cautiously as temperatures reach 46C, underscoring how extreme heat is cutting productivity.
At H. Rehman Tanning Industries, laborers hang buffalo hides outdoors under direct sun, while AKI India workers endure stifling factory floors despite giant fans.
The slowdown in one of India’s key manufacturing centers highlights a broader economic hit from extreme heat, with physical outdoor and factory work both becoming harder to sustain.
Trapped between scorching heat and snarled trade routes, are India's leather workers facing an inescapable economic crisis?
When extreme heat costs India billions in GDP, why isn't protecting its workforce a core economic strategy?
As India's industry expands, can it adopt clean technology fast enough to combat the very heat threatening its growth?
2026 South Asia Heatwave: Unprecedented Temperatures, Workforce Vulnerability, and Policy Gaps in India’s Leather Sector
Overview
In 2026, South Asia, especially India, faced an extraordinary heatwave that began in mid-April and lasted into May, pushing temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius across the country. On April 26, Akola in Maharashtra recorded a peak of 46.9 degrees Celsius, and many cities saw daily highs over 46 degrees. At one point, all of the world’s 50 hottest cities were in India. This extreme heat triggered widespread alerts and caused severe societal and economic impacts, highlighting the urgent need for better adaptation strategies and protections for vulnerable workers and industries.