With inmates almost double its capacity, the Tihar Central Jail here has already started feeling the summer heat.
With high-profile inmates like Sahara chief Subrata Roy being lodged in the jail along with about 13,500 others , the authorities are working towards making their stay comfortable.
“One fan is affixed inside each cell as no coolers are allowed. To keep the prisoners cool, we give them lemon water and the supply of cold water is increased during summers. As it is very hot outside, we lessen vocational and sports activities during peak summers,” said Tihar Jail spokesperson Sunil Gupta.
Asked about high-profile inmates, Mr. Gupta said: “No extra privilege is given to any prisoner inside the jail. Just like other people, Mr. Roy will also sleep under a fan and drink the same lemon water given to other inmates.”
Tihar Jail currently lodges 13,552 inmates -- almost twice the sanctioned capacity of 6,250 -- making it difficult for most of them to cope with the oppressive heat and humidity of the summer months.
While officials say that they take extra measures to keep the prisoners comfortable, the rise in incidents of violence like fights and blade slashing during the season indicates that tempers also rise with the temperature.
“We make extra efforts to keep the prisoners safe, but there is no denying the fact that violent incidents go up in this season as the heat takes a toll on the mind of these people who are already disturbed,” admitted an insider.
This year the situation can get worse as the jail population is at an all time high. Tihar has never seen this kind of population ‘explosion’ in the past.
Asked about managing the extra inmates, Mr. Gupta said: “We are utilising the open space to accommodate extra inmates. Open space comes handy during summers as the inmates can sleep there at night as well, but we cannot do the same during winters.”
Water problem also intensifies during summer and the Tihar Jail authorities get additional water tankers from the Delhi Jal Board to meet the supply. “We have an in-house system for supplying water for drinking and other needs, but in peak summer the demand shoots up and we have to go for additional facilities,” Mr. Gupta added.
