At 8 degree Celsius, Vijayapura struggles to weather cold winds

Residents here these days curl up on their beds and bury themselves under the blankets, especially in the early hours, as the cold winds of winter are blowing over the city.

The worst sufferers, though, are the homeless as also those for whom waking up early is inevitable like milk vendors and newspaper boys. Morning walkers, schoolchildren, the aged and the ailing are in their best winter wear covering themselves from head to toe with sweaters, scarves, mufflers , gloves, shawls and caps.

Parks in the city have recorded a slump in footfall in the evening hours as senior citizens and housewives as the icy breeze confines them indoors.

The mercury level in Vijayapura slumped to 8 degree Celsius on the night of Monday (December 25). The temperature in the city has been in the range of 8-9 degree Celsius in the past few days. It was was 8.4 degree Celsius on December 20 and 9.2 degree Celsius the following day.

The roads and the parks look deserted till late morning. Children, housewives and senior citizens are giving the parks a miss in the evenings even as eateries that sell bhel puris and pakodas in the vicinity have reported a fall in business. Office-goers are returning home early in the evening.  

Keeping fans and ACs on, which is inevitable here in the rest of the year, have fallen silent. Doctors are seeing more patients with severe headaches, running nose, cough, cold, fever and cracks in the feet. The weather has made life difficult for people suffering from asthma and allergic bronchitis.

Doctors have suggested people not venture out till the day gets warmer. They have asked people to wear warm clothes and drink hot water.