Heat wave intensifies, mercury soars above 30°C in Shimla

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 31

Extreme heat wave conditions further intensified in lower and mid-hill of Himachal as mercury rose by a few notches and key summer hill stations were no better than plains, disappointing tourists arriving here to beat the summer heat.

Mercury breached 30.0 degree-mark in the state capital Shimla. Una in Shivalik foothills registered a record high of 44.7°C while mercury stayed above 44.0°C in some other places like Nalagarh and Baddi.

“We had come to Shimla to get respite from heat in plains but the situation is no different here”, said Shruti, who had come from Delhi along with her husband. Maximum temperatures breached 40 degree-mark at Hamirpur (41.3°C), Bilaspur (42.5°C), Mandi (40.1°C) and Sundernagar (40.5°C) while mercury rose to 25.4°C at Dalhousie, 28.8°C at Manali, 32.4°C at Dharamsala, 24.6°C at Kalpa and 22.7°C at Keylong, three to four degree above normal.

Normal life was hit due to the extreme heat wave as tourists as well as locals preferred to stay indoors as bazaars in Shimla wore a deserted look during the day. A large number of tourists carried umbrella with them for having some respite from the scorching sun.

The unusually high temperature is harmful for apple and other fruit and vegetable crops. Natural sources have started drying up in lower and mid hills. However, there was no shortage of water in the state capital Shimla as the pumping was 47 MLD today. Rationing of water would be started in case tourist arrival increases.

Local MeT office has predicted dry weather in lower hills tomorrow and warned of aggravation in heat wave conditions in lower and mid hills. Some relief is expected as thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds has been predicted on June 3 and 4 in lower and mid hills.