Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Mar 21: The weather God seems to be playing hide and seek in coastal districts of Karnataka. It is still March, but the summer feels like it's already reached its peak. People are struggling with heavy sweat, longing for cold drinks, ice creams and tender coconut. There is an oven-like burning heat that is making life difficult by the day.

On Sunday and Monday, some parts of coastal cities recorded an average tempertaure of 34 degree Celsius. The days started pleasantly, with the mercury reaching 28 degree Celsius, only to rise later in the day to 34 degree Celcius.

It is perhaps a rare occasion that this kind of scorching heat is simmering the coastal cities in March itself. Normally, it is in June, just before the moonsoon begins that temperatures rise to 34 or even close to 40 degree Celsius.

The coastal cities including Mangalore experienced cool weather until the first week of February as winter continued to dominate.

Students who are writing exams, people attending social functions, and those working in the fields and in construction sites are the worst affected. What makes the weather even more unbearable is the constant disruption in power.

"We are in middle of March, ans at least for three months we may have to face similar or tougher weather conditions," complain the people.

In the midst of such energy-sapping heat, fans, air conditioners, refrigerators, tender coconut water, watermelons, cold drinks and ice creams are in high demand, and business in this line has started picking up.

"We need to have some rains to get immediate relief from this hot weather. Subramanya, Sullia and other places experienced some rain last weekend, but if there is little rain, then heat will go up, and people may have to struggle harder.

According to the Met department, heavy rain is expected during March end. Let's hope for some rain, even if the relief turns out to be temporary.