G'barga reeling under heat wave

Here air conditioners and coolers are not a luxury but a necessity

 
The mercury has been hovering around 44 degree celsius, badly affecting normal life.
Though the month of May is always hot, this time it seems hotter as there has been no let up in the hot wind blowing day and night.

There have been no summer rains this season with the prediction of meterologists that the 2009 summer would be more hotter than the previous ones coming true. Last year there were plenty of summer rains and the pinch of summer was mildly felt. But the present one is perhaps the most scorchiest ones in the recent memory.

For the people of Gulbarga the summer hardly matters for they have been born and brought up here. But for outsiders particularly those facing the Gulbarga brand summer first time in their life and for the babies facing their maiden summer, it is trying time.
Upper middle class families have been going for air conditioners, middle class for air coolers and the lower middle class and lower class have no option but to pray to Sun God to show some mercy on them.

Wrapped in clothes

People, particularly the school and college going girl students, cover their body fully with clothes. They also cover their face with cloth leaving only visual organs to ward off the oppressive heat wave. The heat wave starts right around 9 am and lasts up to 9 pm.

The Gulbarga natives are unmindful of scorching sun. The construction workers, labourers, rickshaw pullers and others carry on their business as usual for they don’t have any alternative. The State government employees are well protected as the office hours in the months of April-May stand changed to 8 am to 1.30 pm. The others have to sweat through all along. Here ACs and air coolers are not luxuries but essentials.

However, very few people can afford to buy them.

People of Gulbarga city are a bit fortunate as they get three phase power supply round the clock to make them to use all electrical devices.

However, the rural people are always at the receiving end as they get three phase supply only for six hours a day.

The reports of early advance of south west monsoon is music to the ears of people of Gulbarga. The advice given to people to guard against heat wave include avoid going out from 12 noon to 4 pm, wear cotton dress, drink plenty of cold water. Children, aged, expectant mothers, patients are advised against going out. Fruits and vegetables and fluids particularly lemon juice and butter milk are to be consumed. A firm no to aerated cold drinks and alcohol.