Jharsuguda: The western Odisha industrial town has been reeling from an intense heatwave for six consecutive days and counting. Temperatures have surged to 44°C and above, severely disrupting daily life.Scorching conditions have forced residents, especially children and elderly, to remain indoors, with people stepping out only for essential work. Streets and marketplaces have worn a deserted look during peak afternoon hours.“Generally, I go out for daily vegetable shopping around 9 am, but for the past few days, the heat has become unbearable even by 9:30 am. It feels too risky to step out due to fear of heatstroke,” said Surendra Sahu, a resident of Sahapara.Contrary to expectations, local vendors selling beverages like lassi, sugarcane juice and other refreshments said their business has been hit. “People think sales increase during summer, but due to extreme heat, customers stay indoors. Our sales have actually gone down,” said a lassi vendor at Kishan Chowk.
