Mangaluru: During the grey days between winter and summer, the experience that our city had on Thursday, Feb 18 holds out a grave foreboding. In all likelihood, our region is in for a sultry summer.
According to Met officials, an all-time high temperature of 38.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in the city on the day. A glance through the past years’ records shows that 38.2 degrees Celsius, registered in 2012, was the highest so far. The steady upward trend over the past decade would naturally worry the citizens.
With the concrete jungles coming up all around and mindless deforestation in the suburbs, a day may not be far when even this record will be broken.
Many citizens have felt that the increase in the number of airconditioned shopping malls and also in the number of airconditioners may have contributed to the high temperature around Hampankatta, the heart of the city.
The huge volume of hot air collectively emitted by them has caused this phenomenon, they insist. But the very same persons would not say anything about the increase in the number of airconditioned cars, including their own.
Elsewhere in the district, Puttur had recorded 39 and Uppinangady 40.5 degrees in 2014 and 2015 respectively. This was despite the fact that both towns have more greenery around them and being located closer to the Western Ghats than Mangaluru.
Residents of Puttur, Uppinangady and Sullia have been blaming the development of excessive rubber plantations for the sultry atmosphere, which is yet to be confirmed by experts.
From the archives:
Puttur: At 40.5 Deg Celsius Uppinangady was Hottest in State on Jan 19!
Mangalore: Hot News: Sultry Weather in DK – Puttur Sizzles at 39 Deg, State’s Highest