Heatwave sweeps across lower areas

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2

Intense heatwave swept across the lower hills of the state with Una experiencing the hottest day of the season at 43.0 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature remained two to three degrees above normal and the state capital recorded a high of 29.8 degree Celsius, three degrees above normal.

The sweltering heat forced the people to stay indoors. The worst-affected were schoolchildren. Women were seen taking refuge under umbrellas while some covered themselves with dupattas.

The summer is at its peak and the tourist footfall has increased.

The Met Department has attributed the rise in temperature to the western disturbances.

The mercury surged to 39.4 degree Celsius at Sundernagar, 37.1 degree Celsius at Nahan, 35.2 degree Celsius at Bhuntar, 34.2 degree Celsius at Solan and 31.6 degree Celsius at Dharamsala. Kalpa recorded a high of 24.4 degree Celsius while Manali recorded 25 degree Celsius.

The higher reaches of Kinnaur witnessed a mild snowfall in the evening.

The minimum temperature also stayed above normal and Nahan was the hottest at 27.2 degree Celsius while Shimla and Una recorded a low of 18.8 degree Celsius and 20.0 degree Celsius.

Manali was the coldest at 4.0 degree Celsius followed by Keylong 4.8 degree Celsius, Kalpa 9.4 degree Celsius, Bhuntar 12.0 degree Celsius, Sundernagar 16.0 degree Celsius, Dharamsala 16.2 degree Celsius, Solan 17.2 degree Celsius and Palampur 18.5 degree Celsius.

The sudden rise in temperature has triggered forest fires across the state in the lower and mid hills, but the redeeming feature is that the Met office has predicted rain/thundershowers/snow at isolated places in the lower, mid and higher kills in the next five days.