MAPUSA: With a major shutdown of nine hours on Sunday, on a day when people prefer resting at home, the residents of Bardez were forced to spend the day on beaches, at springs and other water bodies to beat the heat.
People who had prior knowledge of the shutdown, were prepared for it and had even planned picnics. And those who preferred to stay home struggled to put up with the hot temperature.
The beaches in Pernem and Bardez were crowded on Sunday as people flocked to waterfronts to escape the sweltering heat; as people crowded the beaches, so too the vehicles resulting in congestion.
Some people spend the day shopping and some families even travelled to Banda and Belgum to spend the day.
“Since spending a one full day without electricity at home, we went to Morjim beach along with my family,” said Naresh Naik, a local.
