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.
With mercury rising, the day temperature at times remains about 40 degree Celsius in the city, thus affecting the daily lives of the people. Summer has made life miserable. The city is experiencing high degree of temperature over last few days.
The demand of green coconut is on the rise this summer. I am selling more than 150 green coconuts a day, said Basudev Behera who sells the green coconut near Rama Devi Women’s College. Green coconut isavailable at Rs 20 in the market these days, whereas it is Rs 10during off season, Behera said.
Watermelon too attracts the people here. The succulent fruit is liked by many people to fight the hot afternoons in the city. Seasonal vendor Kahnu Charan Sahoo said among other business, melon business is more profitable. He said he was selling a kg of watermelon at Rs 15and gaining Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per day as profit. He expects to sell more of watermelon in coming days as there is no indication of respite from the hot summer.
Though sugarcane juice is available in the market throughout the year, but its demand has increased in the ongoing summer days to quench the thirst of the passersby. Cane juice is available in the city market at Rs 10 per glass.
like these, other watery food like grapes and cucumbers are also in demand very much. Grapes are available at Rs 50 per kg, while cucumber at Rs 20 to Rs 25.
Girls are trying to protect themselves from sun by covering their face and hands using stoll and gloves. “I am using umbrella and scarf for covering face. I also use sunscreen lotion to protect my skin and body from the sunlight,” said Sharmistha Priyadarshani, a student of Regional Institute of Education. She added that she was giving importance on diet during the summer and taking lots of watermelon, lemon juice and coconut water. She was also avoiding spicy food.