IT'S SIZZLING: The usually bustling Alankar Centre wears a deserted look as people prefer to stay indoors to avoid the scorching sun in Vijayawada on Tuesday. — PHOTO: RAJU V.

VIJAYAWADA: With the mercury touching peak levels in the last two days, the city's roads have been wearing a deserted look from the noon to evening. The maximum temperature touched 41 degree Celsius on Tuesday, while it was 40.3 degree Celsius the previous day.

Even the busiest of the junctions and centres like Alankar Centre, Benz Circle and the main arterial roads like Bandar Road and Eluru Road have been witnessing a significant drop in the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. There is a sudden rise in temperatures in the last couple of days and the officials of the Meteorological Department say high temperatures will continue for another two days.

"The temperature rose by two degrees, which is above normal in Vijayawada. It is likely to continue for another two days," said Hyderabad Met office director M. Satya Kumar.

He said humidity was witnessed during evenings, while dry winds blew during daytime, mostly afternoon.

According to the officials, the highest temperature in the city was likely to be recorded during the end of May and first week of June. The maximum temperature was likely to be around 44 to 45 degree Celsius.

Sudden rise

GUNTUR: The heat is on. After a prolonged winter well into the first week of April, the summer has set in. And the sudden rise in daytime temperatures in the past couple of days had the citizens reeling. Physicians say that children and the elderly stand the risk of getting sunstroke and care should be taken to protect them from direct exposure to the sun.

Affordable rates

With the mercury hovering above 40 degrees Celsius, people preferred the cooler confines of their homes. The availability of air conditioners at affordable rates has made life a bit easier. "The availability of company manufactured air conditioners at affordable rates has made buying an attractive option. People prefer A/Cs not just to beat the heat, but for cleaner air too,'' says Skills and Styles proprietor Ram Kumar.

But for more than 500 students who spend the better part of summer in the city, preparing for the competitive examinations, life is as usual. "We make it a point not to venture out during mid days, when it is really hot. These days, we prefer to eat in our rooms and get the food parceled from the hotels,'' said N. Rama Krishna, a B.Sc student preparing for the ICET 2007 test.

The onset of summer meant heavy business for coconut vendors and juice stall owners. Tender coconut prices have shot up from Rs.5 to Rs.7 per piece. People, who were affected with sunstroke, should be immediately administered electrolyte solution and I.V. fluid besides cold sponging the entire body Guntur based physician Dr. N. Subramaniyam told The Hindu .

This should be done within 15 minutes of a person getting a heat stroke; otherwise it could lead to coma stage. It would be advisable to wear white caps or umbrellas and consume a lot of fluids rich in salt content. Strenuous exercises should be avoided, as they lead to dehydrating the body, he said.

Thoroughfares looked deserted and those who came out preferred a covered rickshaw or autorickshaw. Men and women riding vehicles covered face and head with white cloth/scarf. School-going children find it difficult to venture out while returning home, as per summer timings majority institutions close at noon or half past noon.

However, there is a respite as the SPDCL officials say that there would be no power cuts in the next couple of months. The six-hour load shedding in villages and two-hour cut in municipalities would continue, they added.

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