By: Aftab Alam
 

ISLAMABAD July 16, 2010: After infrequent showers of monsoon, the Sun seems to grow in anger as it has been bucketing fire on the residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the last few days. With mercury crossing 42 Celsius mark here on Friday, the residents rushed bubbling to the places where water is in excess in order to use it as a shield against the baking heat. 

A huge rush was observed at Shahdara, Chattar, Saalgran, and Korang as families kept pouring in there throughout the day. Nisar Ali, a resident of Sector G-6, sitting with his legs dip in water at Shahdara along with two of his kids said, “This tour was not planned at all, but the blazing heat forced us to look for some cool place to safely see through the day. I love to go to Pir Suhawa and Damn-e-Koh with my family but in this heat it is almost unimaginable to go there.”

Mrs. Nisar also seconded his husband saying, “My children love to visit the Zoo but in the present roasting temperature, this water-resort is no less than an ‘earthly-heaven’ for us. The water is quite cold and it is really making life less miserable.” 

 

Dr. Lodhi, a resident of Guwal Mandi, who, along with his family also preferred to come to Shahdara, explained the reason for coming there, “It is heat everywhere, for the last few days heat seemed to emit from my hands and feet. So I had no other option than coming here and sit in water which is really absorbing all of it. Summer is a period of enjoyment and fun for the children but the current heat wave has made it hellish for the poor little souls who can neither play outdoors nor can sit at home due to frequent load-shedding.”

 

On being asked about the selection of a water-resort for picnic, Aziz Ahmad, a resident of Satellite Town told, “I preferred to come to Saalgran with my family as besides being a picnic spot, it has an added advantage of water, that is in excessive amount over here, to have a soothing effect for the dry-lipped children who are throwing water on each other and having a lot of fun.”

 

The weather forecast too tells a burning story. So, with no ray of hope visible on weather’s horizon in the next couple of days, more families are expected to take shelter in these water-resorts in order to beat the heat.