The northern states of India are suffering from heat wave conditions, while other parts of the country are also witnessing hot and humid weather over the past few days. Amid this, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday shared a “traditional” hack at a public gathering in Madhya Pradesh, urging people to carry an onion in their pockets.
“I look a little young, but my soul is old. Keep an onion in your pocket. Nothing will happen to you (Pocket mein pyaaz the jao…kuch nahi hoga) He said in Shivpuri.
While making this statement, Scindia reached into his pocket and took out an onion to show it to the audience, a video clip published by news agency ANI showed.
He said: “In the modern world, everyone moves around with boxes. The Minister of Communications carries an onion.”
Scindia further said that he does not use the air conditioner in his car, nor does he sit in such an “environment”.
“And when people ask me, even in the 51-degree heat of May and June, I say, ‘This is Chambal skin,'” he added.
During the minister’s speech, another man from the crowd took an onion out of his pocket. “Even this brother has an onion in his pocket, see,” Scindia said, acknowledging the gesture.
He also said that people “shouldn’t forget” these “old things”.
There is a popular belief in certain areas of India and other parts of the world that carrying onions can protect against heatstroke, although there is no specific scientific study that says so.
Maximum temperatures exceed the 40 degree mark in several parts
The India Meteorological Department on Sunday warned of a heatwave in several parts of the country, with the maximum temperature crossing the 4-degree mark in most parts. The only exceptions were the western Himalayas, northeastern Bihar and northeastern India, where temperatures remained below 36 degrees Celsius.
The highest maximum temperature of 46.9 degrees Celsius was recorded in Akola, according to IMD. The Meteorological Department said that a heat wave is likely to occur between April 27 and April 29 in Jammu and Kashmir, between April 28 and April 30 in Himachal Pradesh, and between April 27 and May 1 in Punjab and western Rajasthan.
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and parts of Chhattisgarh will witness hot and humid conditions until April 28, according to the IMD. However, there may be a gradual shift in temperatures, with the IMD indicating a slight drop in temperatures from Tuesday.
With cloudy skies and the return of rainfall, the maximum temperature is likely to drop to 40-42 degrees Celsius on Tuesday and further drop to 39-41 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
