Watermelon sale up as mercury rises

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 3

As the temperature soars high, vends selling seasonal fruits, such as watermelon and muskmelon, can be seen alongside many roads in the city as these are high in demand. Even the business of selling lemon water and coconut water has recorded a good sale, vendors say.

Muskmelon seller Raj Kumar from Abohar said, “We prefer to sell our fruits directly to customers instead of commission agents. Truckloads of fruits, including watermelon, are sold in this way.” He said people too were happy to buy fruits from them as they know that these were coming direct from fields.

With almost no public water drinking places except for a few run by social and religious organisations, commuters are also dependent on lemon water sellers. However, a few kindhearted shopkeepers have also set up water coolers in front of their shops for general public.

Amanpreet Singh, a shopkeeper from Putlighar, said, “We fill our water cooler twice a day. It is a sort of yearly ritual for us during summers.” In the city, there is also a culture of organising chabeel (sweetened water) during summers especially on Sundays.”