Like living inside an oven, says residents as Kashi Swelters at 44.5°C

Varanasi: Kashi, which recorded its hottest day on Thursday with 45.6°C, continued to suffer from intense heatwave conditions on Friday, with the maximum temperature settling at 44.5°C.

According to IMD, the maximum temperature was 3.7°C above normal, while the minimum temperature was 28.6°C, 2°C above normal.

The weather conditions remained sunny with clear sky and dry hot winds. The city roads, markets and ghats remained deserted during the peak afternoon hours.

“The winds feel like they’re coming straight from a blower. Even a 10-minute walk to the market is unbearable,” said Anil Kumar, a resident of Bhelupur.

Renu Singh, a homemaker from Lanka, said, “We’re keeping the coolers on all day and night. The kids haven’t stepped out to play for a week. It’s like living inside an oven.”

Auto driver Mohammad Salim, waiting near Godowlia, added, “There are no passengers after 11 am. The seats get so hot you can’t sit. We’re surviving on sugarcane juice.”

No rain relief is expected in the next few days, said weather experts.

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation continued to spray water in city areas to bring some respite to the residents from hot weather conditions. “Besides water spraying, we’ve set up ORS counters at primary health centres,” said a VMC health officer.