Watermelon, cucumber, green coconut, lassi and cane juice are in great demand as the day temperature has been shooting up with the onset of the current summer. The rising mercury has made life miserable.
The roadside vendors have started selling juices including Bel pana, lassi, water melon, fruits, sugar cane, lemon juice, bhusi, etc. These outlets are also witnessing brisk business with a large number of people making a beeline to these stalls to quench their thirst and beat the heat.
Arjun Muduli and Bhima Muduli of Bharatpur village have a seasonal business. They are selling watermelon and Bel pana near Jagannath Vihar.
“The succulent fruit is liked by many people to fight the hot afternoons in the city,” the duo said. They are selling watermelon at Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg and Bel pana a glass at Rs 10. Their daily turnover is Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 these days.
Uma and Chandan, palls, have opened a stall of Bhusi and lemon juice near the Fire Station here. They add Isabgol and salt in the Bhusi to give a taste, which is also good for health in summer. They are selling both lemon and Bhusi at Rs 10 per glass.
The demand of green coconut and other watery foods like grapes and cucumbers are also in heavy demand. lassi stall owner lingaraj Badajena is highly impressed with his brisk sale nowadays. However, medical expert, Professor Dr Sripasad Mohanty of the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack warns that spurt in sale of serbat and lassi is also an open invite to water borne diseases and for that matter, hygienic should be of on the top of everyone’s mind. “These stalls have to maintain proper hygiene. The water that they use to make juices should be pure,” Mohanty added.
He also said, “We need both sugar and salt to beat the heat in the summer. In all the juices, there is sweetness, but we should add salt to it.” “We should keep our body hydrated in the summer with the Indian drinks like butter milk, lassi, lemon juice, Aam panna and coconut water etc,” he advised. Antioxidants and vitamin are there in the juices, he informed.