Summer heat hits Sunday Market
Srinagar, Jun 29: The scorching heat wave sweeping through Kashmir’s summer capital has cast a shadow over the popular Sunday Market in Srinagar city center. The heat wave has kept shoppers away and left the usually buzzing flea market eerily deserted during the day.
To mention, the city has been grappling with unusually high temperatures this month, with the mercury soaring past 34 degrees Celsius. The vendors said that as the heatwave persists, shoppers who would typically throng the Sunday Market are choosing to stay indoors, resulting in thin crowds and sluggish business.
Spread over a stretch of more than one kilometre, from TRC crossing to Amira Kadal bridge, the Sunday Market is a bustling hub known for its affordable goods. From clothing, shoes, crockery, household items, and summer clothes to electronics, the market caters to people from all walks of life, attracting heavy footfall every week. However, this Sunday painted a different picture.
Vendors said the extreme heat had kept customers away, leading to significantly low sales. “Till noon, I barely attended to a couple of customers. This market used to be so crowded that shoppers would struggle to make their way through the rush to access stalls and make purchases. But today it was deserted,” said Bashir Ahmad, a vendor selling summer clothing.
The impact of the heat was particularly visible during the peak noon hours, when very few shoppers ventured out. While some people with personal vehicles preferred to visit after sundown when temperatures ease a bit, those dependent on public transport said that they avoided the market altogether.
“I have been a regular visitor to the Sunday Market for years, but in this kind of heat, it is difficult to even step outside during the day. I either skip it or visit after sunset when it is relatively bearable,” said Wasim Farooq, a shopper from the outskirts of Srinagar.
The market, which is also home to several makeshift food outlets and stalls selling drinks and snacks, witnessed a slump in business too. Vendors who rely on the market's usual crowd lamented the poor sales.
“When there is a huge rush of shoppers, our sales go up automatically. People buy biryani, snacks, and drinks while shopping. But with hardly any visitors today, our business has been badly affected,” said a biryani snack seller at the market.
Despite the grim day, vendors are pinning hopes on the evening hours when temperatures are expected to dip slightly. Many are looking forward to some respite from the heat in the coming days, so the market can regain its lively charm and once again see shoppers thronging its lanes.
“We hope that evenings and coming Sundays will be better. This market is our livelihood, and it is difficult to see it empty like this,” said another vendor.
