In the informal settlements of India’s western Gujarat state, hundreds of roofs have been painted in a reflective, white coating over the last two months to try to keep their occupants cooler as the hottest time of year approaches.

By Amit Dave, Gloria Dickie and Shilpa Jamkhandikar AHMEDABAD (Reuters) - Hundreds of roofs in the informal settlements of India's western Gujarat state have been painted in a reflective, white coating over the last two months to try to keep their occupants cooler as the hottest time of year approaches.

STORY: For the residents of this informal settlement in India's Gujarat, tackling extreme heat could be as simple as a lick of paint.White paint to be exact, containing highly reflective pigments such as titanium dioxide.

A global scientific trial in Ahmedabad is testing "cool roofs" by painting 400 slum homes with reflective white paint to combat extreme heat. Led by epidemiologist Aditi Bunker and supported by the Wellcome Trust,