Thai villagers stage 'Doraemon parade' to appease rain gods in sweltering heat: WATCH

In recent weeks, Thailand has been dealing withsweltering conditions as temperatures soaracross the region. Experts attribute this trend to climate change, which is causing heatwaves to become more frequent, prolonged, and intense.

In Nakhon Sawan province, located in central Thailand, the absence of rain for months has led villagers in Phayuha Khiri District to resort to a unique ritual to break the drought.

Traditionally known as "Hae Nang Meaw," or the parading of a female cat, villagers have opted to paradeJapanese manga cat Doraemon or HelloKitty dolls instead.

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These parades involve sparkly dressed participants carrying a tinsel-decked cage containing the stuffed toy through the village, while onlookers sprinkle it with water.

The ritual stems from the belief that cats, known for their aversion to water, have the power to summon rainfall with their meows after being drenched.

Meanwhile, in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the scorching heat caused railway tracks to buckle. With temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit), railway workers had to douse the rails with water to bend them back into shape.

The State Railway of Thailand attributed the track warping to the "extreme heat" experienced between Ron Phibun and Khao Chum Thong on April 30. Hour-long dousing with water and ice made thetracksusable again.

Mitigation efforts

Deputy state railway governor Jaray Rungthani who spoke toAFP stressed onthe need for vigilance as temperatures remained high. He assured that railway station managers would assist passengers and handle the heatwave situation based on forecasts.

The heatwave has not only affectedThailand butextendedacross the region, from Bangladesh to the Philippines.

This exceptional warmth is partly attributed to the El Niño phenomenon and underscores the accelerated warming trend in Asia compared to the global average, as highlighted by the UN's World Meteorological Organisation.

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As energy grids strain and schools close, the impact of such heatwaves on communities is significant and calls for proactive measures to mitigate their effects.

(With inputs from agencies)