With the temperature soaring to 41 degrees Celsius on Saturday, people thronged roadside shops selling fruits, juice, and other items to beat the heat in Tiruchi.
Temporary shops selling watermelon, muskmelon, palmyra fruit, pathaneer, sweet lime juice, sugarcane juice, buttermilk, pearl millet porridge (kamman koozh), and other varieties of juice have sprung up along the roadside in the city.
These shops, operating mostly under trees or near traffic signals and crossroads, are seeing brisk business throughout the day as commuters make a pit stop to grab a slice of watermelon or have a glass of juice to beat the heat. This has become a common sight in major areas such as Puthur High Road, Simco Road in K.K. Nagar, Salai Road, and Madurai Main Road. “Many depend on these shops to quench their thirst as the items are fresh and affordable,” said Duraisamy, a commuter.
