Living by the sun, losing to the rain: life in Marakkanam’s salt pans in T.N.

As Tamil Nadu swelters through one of its harshest summers in recent years, many look to the sky hoping for relief in the form of an afternoon shower. But in the salt pans of Marakkanam, rain is the one thing workers cannot afford to wish for. Every spell of rainfall stalls salt production for days and costs them wages.

So, even as they endure hours under a relentless sun that reflects off the white salt fields with blinding intensity, they hope for the heat to continue. It is a cruel irony that the weather which leaves workers dizzy, dehydrated, and exhausted is also what keeps their livelihoods alive.

This year, temperatures crossed the 40°C mark across several districts well into June, while high humidity made conditions feel even more oppressive. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), the State recorded its second-highest average minimum temperature for June since 2015.