NEW DELHI – Lodhi Gardens is a leafy park in the heart of India's capital and a cool asylum for those wanting to escape the city's bustle.

But lately, the gardens have been crammed: Delhi is sizzling in a protracted heat wave that's left many of its 18 million residents smouldering, and caused severe power and water shortages.

"We say we are India the shining, an example of progress to the world, and we can't even provide basic services in our capital city," said Shasi, an 18-year-old who spent yesterday afternoon at Lodhi Gardens with her boyfriend. Both wore shirts soaked through with sweat that stuck to their backs.

The crisis has led to many deaths.

Local newspapers report several hundred people in India's northern states have died because of this year's heat wave. Last Friday, a 34-year-old man was killed in Delhi in a "water rage" related fight.