Summer making you feel hot under the collar? Cool off with a watermelon treat! Students of Sai International School, Bhubaneswar, beat the heat by slurping up the summer fruit in a watermelon-eating competition as part of a summer camp on campus. More than 150 students, who participated in the contest, were given big wedges of watermelon to finish in 60 seconds. While some of them meticulously picked out the seeds before eating it up, others just gobbled up the fruit without bothering much about the seeds or stains on their uniforms. Though almost half of the participants successfully completed the competition within the stipulated time, seven were awarded stationery items as prizes for clocking less than 30 seconds. “Watermelon is not just a good way to beat the heat but is also great for the skin in summer,” said Sangram Mohanty, a Class IV student. A host of creative and adventurous dos at these camps in most schools in Bhubaneswar is helping students unwind during their summer break and hone their skills in various departments. Swimming, dance, music, painting, horse riding, science projects, clay modelling, jewellery designing, filmmaking and photography are some common activities at these camps that last a week or a fortnight and cost anywhere between Rs 100 and Rs 4,500. The prolonged hot spell eased to a certain extent on Tuesday as the heavens opened up early in the morning, soaking the parched ground and bringing cheer to the heat weary. Chandbali near Balasore received maximum rainfall at 70mm followed by Cuttack. Bhubaneswar recorded 15mm rain and the mercury dropped by nearly three degrees. Watermelon sellers are raking in the moolah this season with an average-sized piece of the fruit being sold at Rs 25 to Rs 30. Text: Shilpi Sampad, Telegraph picture