School students cover their faces and heads to protect themselves from the heat in Rourkela.

Rourkela, April 4: Heat is on the rise with the mercury hitting 40°C mark constantly for the past one week.

While authorities are planning to set up water kiosks at various locations to provide drinking water to people on roads, they are also instructing people to follow certain things to avoid sunstroke.

Residents here are reeling from the extreme temperature and seeking respite in various ways possible.

People are going for traditional drinks such as lassi, sharbat and fruit juices to quench their thirst.

Fruits with higher water content such as watermelon and cucumber have also become the source of relief for the residents.

“April has just started and the temperature has already crossed 40°C mark. The situation has become unbearable now and it will be worse in the coming days,” said Subrat Biswal, a resident.

The schools are conducting morning classes to avoid scorching rays of the sun following instruction from the government authorities.

Even the daily wage labourers have been instructed not to work during noon when the temperature is at its peak. Those who venture out during daytime are advised to carry plenty of water with them.

People are seen crowding around shops providing traditional drinks or cold drinks.

“After the temperature started soaring, many people began frequenting my lassi and juice shop regularly. It’s very hot here and life becomes difficult, especially between 11am and 3pm,” said Kaliprasad Das, a juice shop owner.

According to the meteorology department in Bhubaneswar, the area has been witnessing temperature between 39°C and 40°C for the past one week. A Met department official forecast further rise in temperature in the next week when the general election will be held.

The district administration has started taking steps to tackle the situation.

Voluntary organisations and associations are coming forward to help the people.

Candidates contesting elections are the most affected in the scorching heat, as they cannot go with door-to-door campaign. Generally, they are using morning and evening hours to campaign.