This is the gateway to the Thar desert. Churu in Rajasthan sits in the middle of unending sand dunes that roll away on all sides. Temperatures here dip below freezing point in winter and zoom to over 50 degrees Celsius in summer.
This has been one such summer. The people of Churu know they must not venture out during the daytime, but needs must. Fetching and storing water is the chore that takes precedence over all others. It is not an easy task when the sun blazes down like molten gold.
The only flora that braves the heat and the terrain are the Phog and Kair bushes, and the Khejri, Royara and Babul trees.
Drinking water is scarce in almost all the villages and towns of this region and the groundwater is salty. Some homes have made provision for rainwater harvesting and, those who can afford it, have water purifiers.
In summers, most families drink raabdi, a traditional drink made from bajra(pearl millet) and chaach (buttermilk). Heatstroke is an ever present danger and nobody ventures out bare-headed.
Churu’s summers are too severe for any agriculture to be possible. Instead, the fields are all tilled and lie in wait for the monsoon.
The main occupation in the countryside is livestock and dairy farming. And for the villagers, ensuring that their cattle and goats are fed and watered is a primary concern. This summer, grazing lands too are drying up.
Churu is home to the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, famed for its blackbuck population. But May and June are not the months to spot wildlife; not one animal ventures out in the heat.
This year, on June 1 and 2, Churu recorded its highest ever temperature at 50.8 degrees Celsius. According to skymetweather.com, this is the second all-time highest maximum temperature recorded in the history of India.
Of the 15 hottest places recorded in the world in the past few days, eight were in India and the rest were in neighbouring Pakistan.
(IMAGES AND TEXT BY SANDEEP SAXENA)
Just an illusion A mirage forms on a baking road on the outskirts of Churu.
The weak light during sunrise in Churu belies the blazing day ahead, with temperatures crossing 50°C this year.
Cool touch Water is scarce but one resident makes sure she fills a bowl for the birds at a park every morning.
Long road: Livestock is precious in Churu, which doesn’t have much agriculture. People go to great lengths to ensure their cattle don’t go thirsty.
Stuffy ride Summer can be excruicating for those who have to travel long distances to work or study.
Precious resource A well in Bobasar village serves as a lifeline to residents.
Brief respite: A lone tree offers some shelter from the sweltering heat.
Hope springs As evening falls, a pair of blackbuck break cover to cross a highway along the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary.
Published - June 16, 2019 12:05 am IST