It is hot in Maharashtra!

Mumbai, May 2 (UNI) Parts of Maharashtra are reeling under oppressive heat this summer.

The entire Vidarbha region is sizzling with the mercury hovering around the 45 degrees celsius mark over the past week. However, the region experienced some welcome rains yesterday and today because of which the tempertures have fallen slightly in some parts. The Met office has predicted that rains will recur over the next few days.

In Northern Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, Jalgaonkars have sent letters to their relatives advising them to postpone their plans to visit Jalgaon during summer vacations as the mercury here too has peaked at around 45 degrees. The neighbouring Bhusawal city has already recorded 46 degrees.

Jalgaon district has reported four deaths due to sun stroke till now -- two of them were reported from the rural parts of the district while remaining were reported from Bhusawal.

People prefer to complete their marketing before 1000 hrs in Jalgaon, and the streets wear a deserted look thereafter as the smouldering heat forces the people to stay indoors in a self-imposed curfew. The few odd who dare to venture out, do so after covering themselves well from head to foe.

It is the handkerchief sellers who are smiling al the way. The special handkerchiefs, called the ''bagayatdar'' handkerchiefs, used for covering the faces, are selling like hot cakes. Cold drinks and juice centres are also flourishing.

It is the same story in Vidarbha. People here carry an onion when they go out following an age-old practice.

In Vidarbha, sale of air conditioners and coolers has shot up.

Almost 60 per cent of the total annual sales of air conditioners and coolers take place during the three summer months here, according to market sources.

The streets are dotted with kiosks selling water melons, while charitable and voluntary organisations too have made arrangements to provide free drinking water.

Unconfirmed reports said at least five persons have died due to sun stroke in the region, including three in Chandrapur and one each in Gondia and Bhandara districts.

In Jalgaon, people get some relief only after midnight when the atmosphere becomes cooler.

Fortunately for the city, there is no water shortage. Jalgaon had recorded 180 per cent rains owing to which the water table has risen Besides, the reservoirs too have adquate stored water.

In view of the scorching summers, the general hospital in Jalgaon has opened an independent ward to deal with summer-related diseases.

Aurangabad, in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, too has been experiencing unbearable hit, and experts here attribute the rising temperature to the sharp decline in humidity.

Aurangabad city yesterday recorded its highest temperature so far of 43 degrees celsius in the current season. The temperature in this historic city otherwise had been hovering somewhere above 42 degrees celsius during the last three days.

According to sources in the Met office here, the city had recorded 40 degrees celsius on the same day (May 1) last year, while in the year 2005, the maximum temperature on the same day had been 38 degrees.

Talking to UNI, Mr Shrinivas Aundkar, Director MGM Centre for Astronomy and Space Technology here, attributed the rising temperature to a sharp decline in humidity.

Mr Aundkar ruled out further rise in the temperature and predicted timely rainfall this year. He said the weather conditions indicate a good rainfall, but the number of hours rainfall may be less this time.

UNI