Raigad sizzles at 36°C; yellow alert issued for the district

Alibag: Rising temperatures over the past few days have made the heat in Raigad district hard to bear. The mercury climbed to 36 degrees Celsius in all the district's talukas, including Panvel, and with the administration issuing a yellow alert for the district, the hot spell is likely to continue.

The sun is harsh from the morning and the afternoons are worse. Higher temperatures and humid air have left residents drenched in sweat.

Given the swings in temperature, the administration has urged children, senior citizens and people who work outdoors to take extra care.

The heat is hurting farms too. Mhasala, one of the wettest talukas in Konkan, normally gets 4,000 to 4,500 mm of rain a year. This year it recorded 3,690 mm, but the rain was patchy. Since October began, the rising heat has left kharif crops in poor shape, and damage by monkeys and wild boar has added to farmers' troubles.

If the heat persists, people in rural areas fear that wells, ponds and other water sources will dry up and drinking water will run short. At the same time, farmers worry that a sudden stormy downpour could ruin crops that are nearly ready for harvest.

Sources: Saamana; Navarashtra