Blistering wind with cruel summer blaze threw life out of gear across the Coal and Steel belt of Jharkhand. The maximum temperature reached to around 42 degree Celsius in both districts, said local authorities here on Tuesday.
Due to extreme weather conditions people preferred to stay indoors. An electric transformer at Dhansar suddenly caught fire due to rise in temperature resulted into power supply interruption in over 1000 of houses, said a local resident.
With rising summer heat in the city, the fire and rescue services department has warned the residents to be wary of the phenomenon of auto-ignition. It is a phenomenon in which combustible materials catch fire on their own triggered by the rising temperature.
Soaring temperatures not only caused discomfort to the residents but also led to distress fully or partially among the animals and birds residing in and around the district, said Gaghender a resident of Chandaha Village under Chandankiyari block Chas.
According to reports, heat wave claimed the life of dozens of animals including birds’ in the outskirts of the district. Several animals including at Zoo have taken ill because of the heat waves. They are suffering from dehydration and frequent vomiting. Meanwhile, the zoo authorities claim the animals are being given oral dehydration solutions and plenty of cold water around of the zoo.
Notably, soaring mercury and over-exploitation of groundwater, water table in various districts of State has gone remarkably down. Many hand pumps are lying defunct including waterfalls, in many parts of the state. Not only humans but animals too are withering under the intense heat.
People residing in and around of the Jainamore, Paterwar and Gola are alleging that this year they are facing a huge water crisis. Duo districts are facing acute drinking water crisis as around several thousands of hand pumps are lying defunct, check dams, wells and other water sources were dried-up. More than 6600 water sources dried-up across the twin districts while water levels are also depleted in the Damodar River, Garga and Maithan Dam, official sources said.
Vikram Agarwal of Prabhat Colony Chas said that since the last two months, water supply has been hampered and they have to purchase drinking water from the market at any cost. Gajju of Tara Nagar Chas said, “The supply comes without pressure and only for 10-15 minutes in two days.” People from different regions of the city have made complaints in the last 15 days about the irregular supply of drinking water.
With summer water has already begun to be sold at Rs 30-35 per gallon in several parts of the coal and steel belt. Over 9 lakh residents of Chas are battling with water crisis and are enforced to buy water paying high prices.
“Since morning, even when there is a long line of utensils and cans at the public water supply tap, we have to pay a premium for procuring water,” said Vijay Prasad a resident of Chas.“The population at Chas is increasing each day and the district administration should gear-up itself to cater to the rising demand,” he added.