Calicut auto driver beats heat with hay-roof innovation

In India, as people are desperately trying to protect themselves from scorching heat, an autorickshaw driver from Calicut, Kerala, is going viral on social media with his thatched vehicle.

In Calicut, he has spread paddy straw on his vehicle’s roof to get relief from the glaring sun.

Kamaraj, hailing from Tamil Nadu, has thatched his autorickshaw with hay to keep passengers safe from ultraviolet rays.

Kamaraj pours water on the thatched roof daily to keep the interior cool. He used plastic net, grease and rubber sheet to thatch the roof. Once the roof was ready, he spread hay on it.

Straw acts as a shield between the vehicle and the sun, keeping the rickshaw cool.

Kamaraj, hailing from Tamil Nadu, came to Calicut 35 years ago. He got this idea from childhood memories filled with the warmth of a modest hay-thatched house.

As he explored ways to overcome the extreme heat while driving his auto in Calicut, nostalgia for living in a thatched house sparked, and he decided to try it out.

As his endeavour proved successful, many auto drivers in the city are emulating this method. Passengers also feel at home in the auto.