Varanasi/Gaya/ Raipur, May 3 (ANI): With the soaring temperature breaking several old records, vast stretches of Central and North India remain in the grip of a scorching heat wave while the masses woes have been further complicated by water shortage.

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, the temperature is hovering over 40 degrees Celsius.

Consequently, people are taking dips in the River Ganges to beat the heat while many others visit roadside kiosks selling water and fruit juices.

“There is intense heat, temperature is at 40-45 degree and water does not quench thirst and so I am drinking mango juice,” said Manoj Kesri, a Varanasi resident.

Meanwhile, the popular pilgrim and tourist city of Gaya in Bihar also witnessed similar scenes with scant traffic on the roads as people preferred to stay indoors and avoid the scorching sun.

Experts have attributed this harsh onset of summer to global warming.

The dry northerly winds from these areas are adding to the woes of the people in the Gangetic plains.

The summers season in India brings with it problems of water scarcity and power cuts.

In Raipur, Madhya Pradesh, locals are annoyed about the weather, which has forced them to endure extreme conditions and acute water shortage.

However, the resourceful among the masses manage to buy water at exorbitant rates.

“The heat is increasing and has already broken all past records this summer. All the wells in the area have dried up and there is acute water shortage. Some people are buying a can at 10 rupees. We are dependent on water tankers provided by the civic agencies,” said Anwar, a local resident of Raipur, Madhya Pradesh.

Summers in our country pose a difficult time as soaring temperatures also leads to a significant loss of people and livestock

The months of May and June are considered to be the hottest in the country. However, with the mercury hovering in the range of 40 degrees Celsius during the month of April itself, the people are left staggering and wondering at the vagaries of nature. By: Girish Dubey, Surya Pratap, Shivshankar Sarthi (ANI)