Summer has barely started but the heatwave has already brought the city down on its knee, pleading for respite. The Telegraph Salt Lake speaks to residents across the twin townships to find how they are coping with the rise in mercury.
Morning walkers go missing
The morning walkers are an endangered breed now, what with the sun beating down almost from the start of the day.
“Through the winter and spring months, the turnout of our members was very high, but it has decreased abruptly now. On reaching FE Park, we start walking or exercising. But these days even at 6am, it is too humid. Plus there is a renewed Covid scare since the number of cases is rising again. All this is preventing our members from coming to the park. Most of them are elderly. Those of us who are continuing with the exercises feel exhausted long before we are done,” said Chhandashree Roychowdhury, a former teacher at Alliance Française du Bengale, who is a member of Salt Lake Laughing Centre. She herself had fallen ill due to the exposure to the heat but has now recovered and has resumed her morning routine.
Agreed Indira Bandyopadhyay, another member of the FE Park-based laughter club: “Turnout is strikingly low even early in the morning when we meet. Only those of us who are very health-conscious are still coming. We even celebrated the Bengali New Year’s Day but were forced to wrap up the programme quickly due to inclement weather.”
Pet worries
It is not just human beings who are reporting sick with fever or breaking into heat rashes. The heat wave-like condition has left pet parents a worried lot.
The furry animals are having a tough time bearing the brunt.
Rituparna Saha, a resident of CA Block, has a Labrador. “I make sure I give him wet towels to lie on so that he can get some relief. Also I put ice cubes in his bowl along with fresh water which he can drink from time to time. This helps him stay cool.”
Sumit Dasgupta, a resident of IA Block, said: “In this weather, pets should not be made to exercise too much. This exhausts them and causes dehydration. Also, if the kennel is outside the house one must make sure they have adequate shade to rest in. It is best to take them indoors and keep them safe. Giving them a bath or washing their paws with water also makes them stay cool.”
Greens at risk
Not just creatures, even plants are wilting in this heat. When quizzed about how to keep plants in good health in inclement weather Snehashish Roy, a resident of BH Block, said: “You should water the plants before the sun rises. You can water them again after the sun goes down. However, if you over-water the plants that is bad for their growth. Also during a heatwave do not de-pot the plants. That will make them weak from the roots. Plants may be covered with a net or kept inside a green house with a transparent roof. This will keep them safe from sunburns which makes them go brown in stems and leaves."
The heat can be particularly trying for tropical plants, especially those with tender leaves which tend to wilt with too much exposure to the sun. Even those tending to the plants should stay indoors and work with plants before 9am or after 4pm, he said.
But gardeners hardly have that luxury. “I work for several gardens in IA Block. I have to spend most of the time outdoors,” Krishna Khatua said.
Usually in other years the hay wave lasts for barely 3-5 days. This year is particularly hot. I cannot stay out now, since I've fallen sick because of the heat. In urban areas most of the gardens are on the terrace. That makes it even more difficult."Agrees gardener Tapan Sitt. "I fell ill after working non stop from 9am to 3pm. I have to go around from one house to another in this heat and I consumed cold water after walking in the sun. That has made me very ill."
AC high on demand
Kalijit Biswas a salesperson at Great Eastern said, "For the last few days there has been a huge demand for air conditioners. In fact supply is low but demand is high. This rush is expected to continue until the heatwave is on. In the last few days we have received 700 to 800 orders but we could supply only 50 per cent because many brands have become out of stock. Also customers ask for immediate installation, providing that service is also becoming difficult. Every year during summer demands for AC machine are normally on rise but this year there are something exceptional as the Mercury crossed 40 degree in most areas".Swaraj Bhattacharya, BDM Godrej Bhawan Sector V said, "Our total stock of AC machines was totally exhausted within first two days of the heat wave. The sale demand ratio 1:10 normally, but now the ratio has become 10 times more in terms of demand. We are unable to take any more fresh booking ordes at present. 150 machines are in transit which are expected to reach us on April 23-24th.
Rush for online classes
Just as chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced schools to shut down owing to the heatwave, most private schools have resorted to online classes. This sudden shift has irked parents, teachers and students alike. In families where both parents are working, there is usually no one to accompany the child. Rijuta Kar, mother of a 10 year old who lives in Lake Town said, "During the pandemic I could oversee the online classes because we were all at home. But now whenever there is a technical glitch no one can solve it because my daughter is alone at home with her grandmother, who is not very tech savvy."Sumona Bansal, a resident of Kestopur said, "The heatwave is killing. But it is very inconvenient too. We had thought online classes were over for good. But now we have to start them again. We are also facing frequent power cuts in Kestopur Baguihati area. Sometimes they last for 2-3 hours at a stretch. The children miss class if the power goes off suddenly."
Business letdown
For some business houses,the weather has affected overall sales especially Chitra Sale market. "Usually Chaitra Sale figures are always good. This time too they have been fine. However this sudden heat wave in the week just before Poila Boishakh has dampened the spirits of shoppers. They are making the shoppers stay at home, who would otherwise walk in for some last minute shopping ahead of the Bengali New year,” said a spokesperson at Arpita’s Boutique in Sector I.“Usually people buy new clothes for all members of the family. Be it men or women everyone is usually game for some new clothes before new year. But the weather has played spoilt sport this year. The heat has been cruel and people have stopped stepping out of their homes once the sun is out. As a result themarket has suffered a lot," said a spokesperson at Mabesha boutique.Dhonekhali and tant saris were all the rage this year. Even byomkai, mulmul, khadi, cotton printed saris were a rage. Over the years handloom saris have taken over the market. "People earlier bought regular wear cotton saris during Chaitra Sale and kept money aside to buy the more expensive silk saris during Durga Puja. But all that has changed now. Sincemore women are working now, they buy all kinds of saris be it silk or cotton or handloom throughout the year. That is a definite change in patterns and buying habits," he added.
A policeman gets a drink from a roadside vendor in Sector V. Picture by Debasmita Bhattacharjee
In other years, he says, the heat wave lasts for three to five days. “This year it is spilling into the second week now. I cannot stay out anymore, since I've fallen sick because of the heat. In urban areas most of the gardens are on the terrace. That makes our job even more difficult.”
Agrees Tapan Sitt, who also tends to gardens in clients’ houses: . “I fell ill after working non-stop from 9am to 3pm. I drank cold water after walking in the sun.”
Demand for AC machines
The only respite now is staying put in an air-conditioned room. No wonder everyone is rushing to install AC machines at home. Kalijit Biswas, a salesperson at Great Eastern Retail in AB Block, said: “For the last few days, there has been a huge demand for air conditioners. In fact, supply is running low. This rush is expected to continue until the heatwave is on. In the last few days, we have received 700 to 800 orders but we could supply only 50 per cent because machines from many brands have gone out of stock. Also customers ask for immediate installation, which is also becoming difficult,” he said.
Ashowroom in Sector V has run out of stock of its own product. Swaraj Bhattacharya, business development manager, at the Godrej Bhawan outlet, said: “Our total stock of AC machines was exhausted within the first two days of the heat wave. The sale demand ratio is 1:10 normally, but now the ratio has become 10 times more in terms of demand. We are unable to take fresh bookings. We are waiting for a consignment of 150 machines which is expected to reach us next week.”
Back online
When the chief minister asked schools to shut down owing to the heatwave, most private schools decided to resort to online classes.
But this sudden shift has irked parents. In families where both parents are working, there is usually no one to supervise the child at home.
Rijuta Kar, mother of a 10 year old from Lake Town, said: “During the pandemic, I could oversee the online classes because we were all at home. But now whenever there is a technical glitch no one can deal with it because my daughter is alone at home with her grandmother, who is not very tech savvy.”
Sumona Bansal, a resident of Kestopur, said: “We had thought online classes were over for good. But they are starting them again. We are also facing frequent power cuts in the Kestopur-Baguiati area. Sometimes they last for 2-3 hours at a stretch. The children miss class if the power goes off suddenly.”
Business blues
The weather has affected the Chaitra sale market. “Chaitra sale figures are always good. This time too it was going fine. But this sudden heat wave in the week before Poila Boisakh scared shoppers away,” said a salesman at Arpita’s Boutique in Sector I. “Usually people buy new clothes for all members of the family before the Bengali new year. The weather played spoilsport this year.
One would presume that ice cream sellers would make hay in this heat. But not completely so, counters Ramprasad Das, a Kwality Walls vendor. “People shy away from ice cream when it is excessively hot,” says the Madhyamgram resident. But he was hardly having a free moment after he picked his spot outside Happy Street in New Town on Sunday, so steady was the flow of customers.
But one would not grudge him the evening’s bumper sale. Word had reached him about schools being shut down. “I use to stand outside the school at Baisakhi from 1pm. Now my morning business is gone,” he lamented.
In comparison, Sushanta Das, a tea-seller at an FD Park stall, seemed a lot sorted. “Sales may be dismal till 4pm but those who are addicted to tea will come for it once the sun goes down. So after that I hardly have a free moment. I may be needing 125l of milk to make tea in winter but in summer too I need 80-90l,” he says.
Additional reporting by Sudeshna banerjee
Write to saltlake@abp.in