Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Jul 1: Amidst the soaring temperatures in Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir, residents from various areas of Srinagar on Monday started distributing water bottles to passersby.
Young boys from Barthana Qamarwari were seen offering drinking water bottles to pedestrians, passengers in public transport and those in private vehicles.
A young boy, when asked about the motivation behind the act, said, “Due to the soaring temperature and scorching heat, we are distributing water bottles to those in need. The temperature is increasing with every passing day. People feel thirsty, and in the middle of the road, where can they find a shop to buy water? There are not even taps on the roads.”
Similarly, another group of men at Khanyar in Srinagar’s downtown area was observed distributing water to the people.
The rising temperatures have been a significant concern over the past couple of weeks with Srinagar recording over 34.3 °C on Monday.
Notably, in response to the heat wave, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Sunday ordered a 10-day summer break for schools and higher secondary levels from July 08 to 17.
It is pertinent to mention that a heatwave action plan for 2024-2025 was framed for Srinagar to mitigate the impact of extreme heat during the preheat season.
As per the plan, the education department has been instructed to ensure that schools do not operate during peak hours (12-04 pm) when a heatwave is declared. They must also identify shelter spaces equipped with drinking water and ORS facilities.
Additionally, under the heat wave action plan prepared by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Srinagar, several departments, including MCD, PWD, I&FC, and Traffic Police, have been tasked with constructing shelters and sheds, bus stands with cool roofs, and identifying areas to provide shelters and drinking water during heat alert periods.
They are also responsible for ensuring the availability of drinking water at major landmarks and chowks in the city, and project sites.
Meanwhile, people have hailed this collective effort, a community-driven approach to battle the extreme heat. (KNO)
