Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jattvibeday in his 134th ‘Mann ki Baat’ urged citizens to take adequate precautions amid the ongoing heatwave and highlighted India’s rich tradition of indigenous cooling beverages, regional foods and mango varieties.Addressing the nation during the monthly radio programme, the Prime Minister advised citizens to stay hydrated and follow safety guidelines issued by authorities. He emphasised the importance of traditional Indian summer beverages such as ‘lassi’ in Punjab and Haryana, ‘chaas’ in Rajasthan and Gujarat, ‘sattu sharbat’ in Bihar and Jharkhand, ‘kokum sharbat’ and ‘sol kadhi’ in the Konkan region and Goa, ‘paanakam’ and ‘neer mor’ in South India and ‘bel pana’ in Odisha. He said these drinks are not merely refreshments but reflect the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” and are deeply rooted in India’s culinary traditions.Notably, earlier this week, during a Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister had directed all ministers to ensure that their respective ministries and departments take necessary measures to mitigate the impact of the ongoing heatwave across the country.He also spoke about the cultural and economic significance of mangoes, calling those a widely cherished summer fruit across the country. He mentioned various regional varieties, including Alphonso (Hapus) from Maharashtra, Kesar from Gujarat, Dussehri and Langra from Uttar Pradesh, Zardalu from Bihar, Chausa and Malda, as well as Banganapalli, Totapuri, Neelam and Malgova from South India, Himsagar from West Bengal, and Suvarnarekha from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.The Prime Minister also praised a unique conservation initiative involving a specially equipped Dolphin Rescue Ambulance that recently helped save a Ganges River Dolphin after a challenging 13-hour rescue operation. Designed as a mobile hospital, the ambulance is equipped with oxygen support, specialised stretchers and rescue equipment to provide immediate assistance to injured or stranded dolphins.Highlighting the power of citizen action, Modi shared the inspiring story of Akash Gupta from Basti, Uttar Pradesh, who mobilised local youth to clean the polluted Manorama river. Armed with simple tools and a strong commitment to change, the volunteers removed water hyacinths and large quantities of plastic waste, helping restore the river’s cleanliness and raising environmental awareness among local residents.Turning to science and education, the Prime Minister emphasised India’s long-standing fascination with astronomy and noted that astronomy clubs are becoming increasingly popular among young people. He cited the efforts of Astro Kerala, which organises night observation camps and telescope-building workshops. Encouraging students to pursue hobbies and lifelong learning, he urged them to join astronomy clubs and visit planetariums during their holidays.Modi also praised an inspiring social initiative led by Saji Valasseril in Aluva, Kerala. Motivated by the loss of students in a boat accident, Saji launched a swimming training mission that has taught more than 15,000 people, including children with disabilities, how to swim. The initiative has significantly improved water safety awareness and equipped thousands with a life-saving skill.He highlighted the recently concluded National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi which witnessed several record-breaking performances. He congratulated athletes Gurinder Veer Singh, Vishal TK, Tejaswin Shankar, Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar for setting new national records during the championship in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He particularly highlighted the men’s 100-metre race, where the national record was broken three times within two days by sprinters Gurinder Veer Singh and Animesh Kujur. Describing the achievement as a matter of pride for Indian athletics, he said it reflected the growing strength of the country’s sporting talent.