Allahabad sizzles at a maximum of 46 degrees Celsius

ALLAHABAD: The Sangam city, on Friday, witnessed the hottest day of the year as mercury shot up to 46 degrees Celsius. As per the IMD (Indian Metrological Department), station of Ghoorpur, Naini the maximum temperature was recorded at 46 degrees whereas the one at Bamrauli recorded the maximum temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius and at Allahabad University the maximum temperature was recorded at 44.7 degree Celsius.
“The difference of temperature is because of the thick vegetation around both Bamrauli and AU, the place where the instrument is installed”, said Prof Suneet Dwivedi of the center of Ocean and Atmospheric sciences, AU. Whereas the IMD station at Ghoorpur is in the open ground which recorded a different reading, he added.
This is almost the similar conditions as are found in the city area which, because of the massive cutting of trees in the past one year, has become a ‘heat dome’. The vehicle and other pollution just add up to the adverse conditions, he added.
Friday’s temperature was around 2.5 degrees more than what the Sangam city recorded on Thursday. The maximum temperature on Thursday was 42 degrees while minimum was recorded as 27.9 degree Celsius.
The temperature, as recorded at Air Force station Bamrauli, was 44.3 degrees Celsius while the minimum was 27.6 degrees Celsius. Adding to the sufferings of the denizens was the high level of humidity which was recorded at 63% maximum.
Because of the hot conditions, there was very thin attendance in the markets and almost all the roads had a deserted look, barring the time of schools getting over. Those commuting on their two-wheelers were having hard time in managing the adverse conditions because of which most of the commuters were seen covering their faces with cloths.
“The morning was normal as other days but as the day progressed, we started feeling the heat of the Sun and my son fell ill because of the heat and so were some other boys of our colony”, said P K Jha, a resident of Mumforganj locality of the city.
“The weather would be almost the same on Saturday but by the evening, city would witness dust storm and mercury would come down a bit by Sunday”, said Prof S S Ojha of the department of Geography, AU.