It was virtually a sauna here on Friday with scorching heat and sweat dripping down one's back, courtesy high humidity, with the Met office ruling out any signs of rain which could bring relief.
Despite the soaring mercury (with the maximum temperature touching 37.2 degrees Celsius) cricket fans trooped in at the Eden Gardens he to watch Kolkata Knight Riders take on Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 game. Shielded by the caps, hats and sunscreens, spectators beat the heat with soft drinks.
Kolkata's usually buzzing streets appeared dull with most preferring to remain indoors.
The preferred mode of transport was the Metro and the air-conditioned buses. Those caught in between transits hid under umbrellas and took shelter under store canopies.
The day also saw the Kolkata audience welcome the release of "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion".
Many took leave from work to catch the first-day-first-show of S.S Rajamouli's magnum opus. Among the audiences, were an excited clutch of moviegoers from neighbouring Bangladesh.
"This is the perfect way to beat the heat. We have been waiting for this movie for two years and its worth the wait," a moviegoer said.
According to the Met department, humidity soared at around 91 per cent on Friday morning and there is no forecast of rain.
--IANS
sgh/ssp/vd
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