Oases within city bring relief to outdoor workers, commuters

Oases within city bring relief to outdoor workers, commuters

Muscat – As the scorching sun of summer takes hold of the city, a few generous residents have made arrangements to provide drinking water for passersby, offering much-needed relief from the blistering heat. These mini ‘oases’ in the middle of road provide a refreshing respite for blue-colour workers and daily commuters.

Rashid Khan, a construction worker from Hamriya who paints houses on contract basis, says he can’t be thankful enough to these generous citizens.

“This year, I’ve worked in a few homes and shops in an area which is far away from supermarkets or even mosques. Luckily, there’s a big house with three taps nearby, providing cold and clean water. It’s a genuine relief.”

Most of these public taps installed by kind citizens are connected to coolers kept inside their homes. Advanced controls allow for precise adjustment of water temperature. While some people use the water for drinking, many others fill plastic bottles to splash their faces and soothe their eyes from the burning sensation caused by the scorching sun.

Talking about the purpose of these taps, one villa owner shared an emotional reason. He installed the taps following his late mother’s wishes. She used to feed birds and provide water to anyone, regardless