In summer, many hilly areas are now feeling the heat like Delhi.
In the plains, now even in the hilly areas the temperature has reached 40. These are the hilly places where people from the plains come in search of cold in May-June. There are hilly, low mountain or hill-belt cities or areas where the temperature has reached 40 degrees or the weather department has predicted it to cross 40 degrees. They include Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and other states.
Big hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Manali have not reached 40 degrees at this time, but there too, heat is being recorded more than normal. Towns like Jammu, Dehradun, Roorkee, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, lower parts of Nainital district, lower parts of Pauri district, Una, Nahan and Neri of Himachal Pradesh are scorching with heat. Let us try to understand why the weather is adopting extreme trend in the hilly areas? Why are often cold areas getting hotter?
The coolness of the mountains is no longer reliable
As soon as the name of mountains comes, a cool breeze comes to mind. People think that there will be relief from the heat there. But now the picture is changing. Many hilly areas of the country are scorching this time. At some places the temperature reached 40 degrees. It is expected to exceed 40 in some areas. That is, the situation is such that many hill cities are now feeling the heat like Delhi in summer. This change is not just news of the weather. This is a warning. This shows that the climatic balance of the mountains is changing. Cities which once provided relief, have now become difficult to go out in the afternoon.
The temperature in Haradoon was recorded at 39.7 degrees. Photo: PTI
Concern increased in hilly areas of Uttarakhand
People consider Uttarakhand as a cold weather state. But this time the heat has shown its anger there too. The temperature in Dehradun was recorded at 39.7 degrees. The mercury reached 40 degrees in Roorkee. Udham Singh Nagar recorded 40.2 degrees. There was intense heat and heat wave like conditions in Haridwar and Rishikesh also. It was also said in the reports related to the Meteorological Department that the temperature may increase by 1 to 3 degrees in the coming days.
This simply means that Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and surrounding areas can face temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees. Heatwave alert has also come to light in lower parts of districts like Nainital and Pauri. This matter is more serious because Uttarakhand is not only struggling with the heat of the plains. With the heat, incidents of forest fire are also increasing. Dry air, low humidity and continuous strong sunlight have increased the danger. That means heat is no longer just an inconvenience. It is affecting both the environment and human life.
Heat pressure on the mountains in Himachal too
Himachal Pradesh is known for its cold valleys, but here too the news of summer is shocking. The temperature in Una reached 43.4 degrees. Neri recorded 41.2 degrees. The mercury reached around 40 degrees in Nahan. These cities are considered part of the Hill and Lower Hill belt of Himachal. This means that summer is no longer limited to the plains only. The lower and central parts of the hilly states are also vulnerable to it. Cities like Shimla, Dharamshala, Manali and Solan have not yet reached 40 degrees. But even there the temperature is above normal. Hot days of this season have also been recorded in cities like Shimla. That is, the big concern is that even cities which were considered cold are now heating up rapidly.
Now concrete is increasing in the mountains, trees are decreasing, open land is decreasing and due to this more heat is trapped.
Why are the mountains getting so hot?
Many reasons account for this. The first reason is lack of rain. When pre-monsoon rains do not occur on time, the land heats up quickly. The second reason is reduction in snowfall. Snow lasts less in higher areas. This reduces the cold. Both rivers and air are affected. The third reason is rapid urbanization. Concrete is now growing in the mountains. Trees are decreasing. Open land is decreasing. This traps more heat. The fourth reason is climate change. The weather is no longer as stable as before. Old patterns of temperature are breaking. It’s getting hot sometimes. Sometimes heat wave continues for a long time. Its effect is not limited to just the weather.
New problems are taking birth
The increasing heat in the mountains is bringing many new problems. Tourism is being affected first. People go expecting coolness. But even there it is disappointing if there is hot air. The second effect is on water. Waterfalls and small water sources are drying up quickly. The problem of water has increased in rural areas. The third impact is on the forests. Dry forests catch fire quickly. Its effect is clearly visible in Uttarakhand. The fourth effect is on health. People living in hilly areas are not always used to such heat. This increases the risk of dehydration, headache, fatigue and heat stroke.
Many hill stations are no longer a guarantee of relief
The truth is that now it is not right to consider every hill station as equally cold. Altitude, greenery, local weather and construction pressure make a lot of difference. Relief may still be available in higher areas. But the lower hill cities are warming rapidly. This means that the old formula of go to the mountains and escape from the heat is weakening. Now it is important to check weather updates before travelling. It would not be right to plan just by looking at the name of the place.
The old formula of go to the mountains, escape the heat is weakening.
What should the administration and people do?
To deal with this challenge, just the alert of the Meteorological Department is not enough. The local administration will have to increase preparedness for water, health and fire protection. There should be a facility for heat stroke in the hospital. There should be provision of water in bus stands and markets. The fire alert system in the forests should be more rapid. People will also have to be careful. You will have to avoid sunlight in the afternoon. Will have to wear light clothes. Will have to drink more water. Special attention will have to be paid to the elderly, children and the labor class.
How is the heat in the Northeast?
At present the picture in the North-Eastern states is different from North India. There is less heat wave like situation here, but there is a period of humidity, hot days and intermittent rains. According to the latest weather reports, there is a possibility of rain and thunderstorm in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Yellow alert has also been issued at many places. This means that it is hot there, but due to rain and clouds the situation is controlled to some extent. That is, there is no such continuous scorching heat wave in the North-East, as is being seen in North-West and Central India.
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