A cold wave has blanketed the capital, and Delhi’s homeless – who take refuge in the city’s night shelters – are bearing the icy brunt of it.

At the shelter in Daryaganj, inhabitants struggle not only with the cold but with a severe lack of toilets, space and bedding, as well as safety concerns.

Conditions at the shelter in Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are incrementally better, but the threat of Covid still looms large. The shelter’s caretaker pointed out that he has a choice: he can either ensure social distancing norms by asking people to leave and die outside in the cold, or he can let them stay and hope for the best.

Newslaundry’s Supriti David and Tehreem Roshan spent the night at the shelters. Here’s what they found.

Watch.