Mercury rises by 6 degrees, hotter days ahead

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 18

Making the residents of the city and its adjoining areas feel the heat, the mercury rose by almost six degrees as compared to yesterday.

However, the minimum temperature didn’t register much change over the two days.

The sun beat down harsh throughout the day. The temperature rose to 39.4 degree Celsius today as compared to 33 degree Celsius yesterday.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 24.4 degree Celsius today while it was 24.5 degree Celsius yesterday.

As per the Agri-Met Department of the PAU’s regional centre in Bathinda, the maximum humidity was recorded at 60 per cent while the minimum was 18 per cent.

Hot winds, coming from the arid Western region, blew at 2.4 kmph.

As per the weather forecast released by the regional centre, the region may not receive any respite from the heat wave conditions until next week when there are chances of cloudy development accompanied by light rain.

As per the forecast released by the Indian Meteorological Department, the region will heave a sigh of relief over the weekend with chances of partly cloudy sky and a possibility of scattered areas receiving light rainfall.

The IMD also predicted that the maximum temperature in the region will be recorded around 40 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature will increase to be recorded around 26 degree Celsius.

Demand for change in school timings

Although most of the schools have announced that they would close for summer vacations from May 22, voices demanding change in school timings are getting louder.

Rakesh Narula, president of the Bathinda Vikas Manch, demanded that the schools must take cognizance of the weather conditions and immediately declare holidays of students of Class V and below.

Timings for those in senior classes must also be changed so that they reach home by 1pm, he said.

MM Behl, convener of the joint action committee, also requested the Education Department to close the schools for summer vacations and conduct early morning classes for students of senior classes.

Sun beats down harsh during the day

• The sun beat down harsh throughout the day. The temperature rose to 39.4 degree Celsius on Thursday as compared to 33 degree Celsius on Wednesday. 
• The minimum temperature was recorded at 24.4 degree Celsius on Thursday while it was 24.5 degree Celsius on Wednesday. 
• Hot winds, coming from the arid Western region, blew at 2.4 kmph.