The heat is on: Prayagraj sizzles at 46.1 degrees
PRAYAGRAJ : The rising mercury in Sangam city is breaking all previous records. On April 30, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 46.1 degrees Celsius, 6 degrees above normal— the third-highest temperature ever recorded in April in Prayagraj. On April 29, the city had recorded its maximum temperature at 46.8 degrees Celsius, the hottest day in the entire country and the highest ever temperature recorded in April, breaking the 23-year-old record of 46.6 degrees Celsius registered on April 30, 1999.
Due to the record-breaking heat in the district, it has become difficult for people to commute during the daytime.
Besides moving on their twowheelers and walking, locals are finding it extremely difficult to stop at traffic lights under the blazing sun in the sweeping heatwave.
Many commuters are seen stopping way before the intersection if they find any shed before the traffic light.
DUE TO THE RECORD-BREAKING HEAT IN THE DISTRICT, IT HAS BECOME DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO COMMUTE DURING THE DAYTIME.
According to the weather station of the Indian Metrological Department (IMD), installed at Ghurpoor, Naini, if the temperature of April for the past 10 years are considered, the city had recorded a maximum of 42.6 degree Celsius on April 30, 2012, 45.9 degree Celsius on April 30, 2013, 45.1 degree Celsius on April 30, 2014, 43.2 degree Celsius on April 21, 2015, 45.3 degree Celsius on April 15, 2016, 45.7 degree Celsius on April 20, 2017, and 44.3 degree Celsius on April 26, 2018.
On April 30, 2019, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 46.5, on April 16, 2020, the maximum recorded temperature was 43.7 degrees Celsius and last year on April 28, 2021, the maximum temperature was 44.3 degrees Celsius.
Earlier, the mercury had reached almost 47 degrees or crossed the mark only in May.
“For the last five days, the mercury in Prayagraj has been hovering around 45 degrees resulting in extremely hot conditions and the sky acting as a burning inferno, and on Friday, it broke all records and touched the maximum temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius,” said Prof AR Siddiqui of the department of Geography, Allahabad University.
“The weather would remain almost the same in the coming days as the temperature would remain around 45-46 degrees and although the city would be hit by intermittent dust storms, people would continue to face the blaze of the sun till the premonsoon showers arrive,” said the weather expert.
Because of the hot conditions, several markets and parks wore a deserted look all through the day on Saturday.