By Anuksha Dey
Yesterday, Bengaluru recorded its hottest day in four years, and it’s no April Fool’s joke. The mercury level soared to 37.2°C. Temperatures continue to be high as the city recorded its highest minimum temperature (23.1°C) this morning. The temperature on Thursday was merely 0.1°C short of the all-time high of 37.3°C recorded on 29th March, 1996. Clearly, Bengaluru came close to matching the highest temperature record set in 15 years ago.
Temperatures in Bengaluru cross that of Chennai?
The meteorological department forecast a heatwave in Chennai yesterday. It is predicted that the wave will last up to the 5th of April in Chennai. While temperatures at Chennai Airport went up to as high as 39°C, Arjun Vasudevan from Chennai claims that the temperature in parts of the city remained surprisingly cooler than Bangalore. “It’s also interesting to note that the Chennai city observatory at 36.6°C has recorded lower temp than Bengaluru city’s 37.2°C,” he says.
Temperatures likely to stay high
March to May is considered the summer season in Bengaluru when the average temperature during this period is around 33°C. This year, however, it has been exceptionally hot. Temperatures in the city is on the rise since March 1st and went up further a week ago. According to TimeAndDate.com, the temperature is not likely to go down in the next two weeks.
Bangaloreans link high temperature to climate change
“What have we done to this city?” asks Murukesh krishnan on Twitter. “The price we pay for ‘development’ is too high. Concrete roads aren’t allowing rainwater to seep down, cutting down trees for Metro/other projects is increasing the temperature and pollution.”
Praveen Kumar batted in favour of the planet: “I don’t think we need development when it is killing mother Earth. Still remember days in Bangalore late 2000s when Bengaluru was known as a hill station… hope we get back those days.”
Health risks from high temperature
High temperatures between 32°C and 40°C can cause heat cramps and exhaustion. Heat cramps occur when the body fails to cool itself in hot weather conditions. If you feel you are sweating heavily, fatigued, thirsty and experiencing muscle cramps, it may be a heat cramp. If these symptoms are accompanied by nausea, lightheadedness, and blacking out, it could be heat exhaustion.
Precautions
To stay fit during the summer, try wearing loose-fitting lightweight clothing, that allows your body to cool down properly. Apply sunscreen to protect against sunburns. Stay hydrated, and try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day. Try to avoid places that can get extremely hot. Parked cars are a bad place to rest, and never leave your children behind in vehicles on a hot day.
