1 week Ago By Sandip Dighe
1 2 Pune: April has started showing its cruel side with the maximum temperature soaring well above the 40°C-mark in several parts of Maharashtra. On Monday, all three observatories in the city breached the 40°C day temperature mark for the first time this season with Lohegaon being the hottest spot at 42.2°C.
This was higher than the previous 41.4°C at Pashan on Sunday and Lohegaon a few days ago. IMD officials said the heat intensity would remain high or on the same line for the next few days over the city.
"The clear sky and dry weather conditions have significantly contributed to the rise in day temperatures across the state, including Pune. There is a possibility that the day temperature will increase further in the coming days," a senior IMD official said. People of Pashan — the second hottest place in the city on Monday — felt the heat at 40.
7°C. Shivajinagar recorded the maximum temperature at 40.2°C, which was 2.
8 degrees above normal. This was the first time the area crossed the 40°C-mark this season, a Met official said. "There are local factors involved in the temperature variations in areas across state.
It mostly depends on construction activities and presence of highrises in a particular locality. These factors will continue to influence the weather in future," he said. The rise in the city's day temperatures came after last week's cloudy conditions and light rain when the mercury in Shivajinagar had dropped to below 35°C.
"I travelled over 20km on my two-wheeler on Monday. The intensity of the heat was unbearable. This was for the first time I felt so exhausted this season," said Shanta Kumar, a salesperson working with a private firm.
People were seen covering their faces with handkerchiefs as they were out in the afternoon, and women riding two-wheelers kept their faces covered with scarves to beat the heat. While Akola was the hottest place in state on Monday at 44.2°C, three locations in Vidarbha recorded day temperatures at over 43°C — Brahampuri (43.
8°C) and Amravati and and Chandrapur (both 43.6°C). Nagpur, Wardha and Yavatmal recorded maximum temepratures of 42.
4°C, 42°C and 42°C. Going out during the day was equally unberable in Jalgaon (42.5°C) and Solapur (42°C).
Nashik city experienced a significant temperature surge since the past week as the mercury rose by 6.9 degrees to the season's high of 40.3°C on Monday.
"I am avoiding any type of outdoor activity during the peak afternoon hours because of the intense heat," said Sachin Katyare, a Nashik resident. India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted hot and humid conditions for isolated areas of Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, and Nandurbar districts for Tuesday and Wednesday. Malegaon, also in Nashik district, recorded an even higher maximum of 41.
6°C up from Sunday's 40.8°C. Nashik city's minimum temperature on Monday was 22.
0°C. Dhule city also recorded a maximum temperature at 42°C, up from Sunday's 40.5°C.
In Marathwada region, Parbhani, Beed, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded maximum temperatures at 42.1°C, 41.9°C and 41°C, respectively.
The departures were in the range of 2.3 degrees to 3.8 degrees in the region.
(With inputs from Tushar Pawar in Nashik).
