BEAT THE HEAT
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
24/V/2024
Summer has been tough on everyone in Rajasthan this year. 50 degrees C and rising is becoming unbearable.
Heat strokes have already claimed many lives here. Dehydration is very common. Situation is grim.
Plants are wilting and drying. Green leaves become crisp on the plant itself due to intense heat. Flower buds turn yellow & fall off by the evening, even in shade.
Hats off to the labourers, courier and food delivery boys & drivers driving vehicles without AC. Animals are seen congregating under every available tree or shade. Birds disappear after mid-day and return close to sun down, when the heat subsides.
Lakes and water bodies are drying up fast. Water tanker services are making a fast buck. Tankers with “Meetha Pani” cost 700 bucks, “Pheeka Pani” tankers cost 400 and “Khara Pani” tankers 350 bucks.
Still the traditional ‘piyao’ is serving the ‘panthi’ or the traveller. A lady still sits in a thatched hut with earthen matkas full of water with a ‘lota’ attached to a long handle in her hand in this heat, quenching the thirst of every passerby.
The transient makes an “oakh” or a cup with his hand under his mouth and glugs down water. ‘Bai ji’ as this lady is fondly called, knows how to control the speed of flow of water. The person who drinks doesn’t spill a drop is the norm. Water is precious.
Sitting on a motorcycle seat parked in the sun will scorch your backside like a kebab on a tawa. Imagine, if you pour boiling water on yourself while taking a bath. Blisters may pop up. Rooftop water tanks are pouring water that way.
Fish in our tubs are extremely uncomfortable. For them, the comfort level is around 28 degree C and they are surviving in 50 plus. There is no way to cool those creatures. My heart weeps for them.
There is an ‘orange’ alert issued by the local met department to stay indoors. Schools have been shut. However, people have to move because of various reasons. It is tough on all.
You can imagine soldiers guarding the borders in this heat. A salute for each one of them too.
The sun’s glare and sweltering heat is taking its toll. One can make sizzlers without stoves. Full sleeves and dark glasses are not good enough. Here, the traditional head gear called ‘safa’ does help menfolk. The ghoonghat gives some protection to the womenfolk.
At places in Rajasthan water sprinklers have been deployed by volunteers to keep people cool. In the Sun City, the local Tent House Association has erected shades and covers at red lights, especially for the two wheelers and their pillions at important crossings giving them some respite for the duration of the signal. Innovation and humanitarian help at its best.
Loo continues to blow hot air. One can see mirages, especially while driving on the road. Soles of shoes get left behind, if one steps on a molten road.
As per local folklore:-
नौतपा अगर न तपे तो क्या होता है?
दो मूसा, दो कातरा, दो तीड़ी, दो ताय।
दो की बादी जळ हरै, दो विश्वर दो वाय।।
अर्थ:- नौतपा के पहले दो दिन लू न चली तो चूहे बहुत हो जाएंगे। अगले दो दिन न चली तो कातरा (फसल को नुकसान पहुंचाने वाला कीट) बहुत हो जाएंगे। तीसरे दिन से दो दिन लू नही चली तो टिड्डियों के अंडे नष्ट नहीं होंगे। चौथे दिन से दो दिन नहीं तपा तो बुखार लाने वाले जीवाणु नहीं मरेंगे। इसके बाद दो दिन लू न चली तो विश्वर यानी सांप-बिच्छू नियंत्रण से बाहर हो जाएंगे। आखिरी दो दिन भी नहीं चली तो आंधियां अधिक चलेंगी। फसलें चौपट कर देंगी।
Meaning:- If there is no heat wave in the first two days of Nautapa, there will be a lot of rats. If this is not done in the next two days, there will be a lot of Katra (insects that damage crops). If there is no heat wave for two days from the third day onwards, the locust eggs will not be destroyed. If you do not take heat for two days from the fourth day onwards, the bacteria causing fever will not die. After this, if the heat wave does not subside for two days, the world i.e. snakes and scorpions will go out of control. If it doesn't blow for the last two days then there will be more storms. Crops will be destroyed.
इसलिए "लू" से भयभीत न होवें। स्वस्थ रहें, मस्त रहें, जीवन कार्य में व्यस्त रहें।
So don't be afraid of "loo". Stay healthy, stay happy, stay busy in life's work.
People of ‘Registan’ are used to the heat but one needs to take precautions and avoid taking ‘pangas’ with the sun. This too shall pass.
How soon shall we have some relief from this heat wave? I wonder!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS
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