Scorching heat affects Tarai life, mosquitoes add woes

By Sudha Dev/Janarjan Khatri/Siraj Khan,Saptari/Sarlahi/Nepalgunj Apr. 24: Scorching heat has affected life across Tarai. Unable to endure it, people are forced to visit rivers and even swimming pools to soothe themselves. 

According to Binda Devi Sadha, a resident of Ward No. 6 in Bishnupur Rural Municipality, the intense heat and the scorching sun from early morning have disrupted the routine lives of ordinary people.

Ram Kisun Yadav, 52, from Ward No. 12 of Rajbiraj Municipality, shared, “It has been so hot and windy since early morning that it has become extremely difficult to step outside. If this is the situation at the beginning of April, it’s frightening to think what May and June might bring.”

Sabnam Khatun, who travels daily from Maleth in Ward No. 9 of Rajbiraj to sell vegetables at the local market, remarked, “In previous years, the hardest times used to come in May and June. But this year, it started right at the beginning of April. We depend on vegetable farming for our livelihood, and even though we water the crops daily, the plants are beginning to wilt, which is deeply concerning.”

She further expressed her worry that if the heat intensifies in May and June and the crops fail, feeding her family could become a serious challenge.

Jayaram Mandal, a daily wage labourer from Noniya in Ward No. 2 of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality, said that working under such harsh conditions has become nearly impossible. “I earn just enough through daily labour to feed my family of two. If this heat continues, it will be a huge challenge to make ends meet,” he said.

Due to the extreme heat, the number of patients at the Rajendra Narayan Hospital in Rajbiraj has risen significantly. Health workers have reported an increase in cases of stomach ailments, fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and respiratory infections.

Because of the blistering sun and intense heat, many schools in Saptari have begun operating early morning classes.

The scorching heat over the past few days has also started disrupting life in Sarlahi.

About a week ago, there was light rainfall, but since then, the scorching sun has warmed the ground, marking the onset of extreme heat. Farmers and labourers working under the sweltering sun are the most affected.

Ram Kailash Ray from Pipara, Brahmapuri Rural Municipality-6, said that the heat has become unbearable over the past two days. “Maybe it is because of the rain last week, the heat has increased terribly. It is almost impossible to step outside after 9 or 10 am," he said.

Asman Tamang of Bel Danda, Harion Municipality-1, said that even the Chure region has been experiencing extreme heat for the past few days.

As temperatures rose, people in main market areas such as Malangwa, Harion, Lalbandi, Bayalbas and Barhathwa have been complaining about a surge in mosquitoes. Shivchandra Chaudhary from Malangwa Municipality-8 said the heat and mosquitoes have made it difficult to sleep at night.

Chaudhary also complained about the dust from the neglected Postal Highway in Malangwa, which becomes particularly troublesome during the summer. “Despite several protests, the road in the market area has not been blacktopped yet,” said Chaudhary, who is also a civil society leader. “The dusty and broken road makes things even worse during the summer,” he added.

As the heat increases, people are also experiencing health problems such as headaches, dizziness and lethargy. Doctors have advised staying indoors during peak daylight and drinking plenty of water.

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Medical Superintendent of the Provincial Hospital in Malangwa, stressed the need for proper diet and hygiene during the summer. He said, “Heat-related infections will gradually increase, so it is crucial to stay hydrated and maintain a clean diet.”

With rising temperatures, the number of people on the streets and in marketplaces during midday has declined. Meanwhile, the sale of cooling fruits like watermelon, cucumber and pineapple, along with cold beverages like ice cream, lassi and juice has increased.

From Nepalgunj in Lumbini,  our correspondent Siraj Khan reported that as hot winds and extreme temperatures increased, water parks and swimming pools in Nepalgunj have become key destinations for locals from Banke, Bardiya and nearby Indian towns looking to take refuge from the heat.

The number of people visiting local water parks and hotel swimming pools has been increasing daily. People from Bahraich, Nanpara, Babaganj, Mihipurwa, and Kaisarganj in India and from Nepalgunj, Kohalpur and Gulariya in Bardiya are crowding these facilities.

Kesharaj Yadav, Manager of the Modern Wonderland Water and Fun Park in Manikapur, Janaki Rural Municipality-6, said the park has been full from morning to evening, attracting visitors from both Nepal and India.

Suman Verma from Bahraich, India, who was at the swimming in the park, shared how enjoyable it is to spend the whole day in the water during such hot weather. He said many people from Bahraich come to Nepalgunj every week just to cool off.

Saturdays and public holidays see a large crowd of Nepali visitors, while Sundays are popular among Indian tourists. According to park operators, about 500 to 1,000 people come for swimming on holidays, and up to 400 on other days.