Though the drop in temperature levels to a single digit pushes up the tourist footfall in the Agency of Visakhapatnam district, it proves to be a bane for the tribal people and they prefer to stay indoors due to the biting cold.
Eight of 10 mandals in the Agency area have been the worst hit due to the dipping mercury levels for the past one week.
Regional Agriculture Research Centre (RARS) at Chintapalli recorded 1.5 degree Celsius, the lowest so far in the last few years, on December 31.
In the last couple of days, the temperatures vary between 2.5 and 3.2 degree Celsius. Araku region is also registering temperature less than 10 degree Celsius.
According to locals, the impact of the cold weather is more on children and senior citizens who develop health complications. People are seen gather around fire till 10 a.m. to warm up and beat the cold, while shops are being closed by 7.30 p.m. .
Locals say they find it difficult to bring drinking water as they have to trek long to get the same. “With thick fog enveloping around, we fear to go out early in the morning. We are going once in three days,” said a tribal, P. Yasoda from Tajangi village in Chintapalli mandal.
Health complications
Many children, especially the school-going ones, develop health complications. It is learnt that students of almost all tribal welfare schools are forced to take bath with cold water.
“Many school children suffer from cold and cough. For the last two days, I have stopped sending my son to school,” said K. Sekhar, a resident of GK Veedhi.
Meanwhile, due to thick fog, transportation in the Agency belt has been hit. However, RTC buses are being operated taking the necessary precautions.
According to District Collector Pravin Kumar, the Health Department is on alert and continuously monitoring the situation in the Agency.
Mr. Pravin Kumar has, however, said no decision has been taken on school timings in the Agency.