Prayagraj, also known as Sangam City, experienced extreme heat on Friday as temperatures soared to 45.2 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest location not only in Uttar Pradesh but across the entire country. This temperature marked a departure of more than 4 degrees above the normal for this time of year.
Temperature Details and Impact
The minimum temperature settled at 23.4 degrees Celsius, providing no respite from the intense heat. Varanasi followed as the second hottest city in the state, recording a maximum of 44.3 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 23.2 degrees Celsius.
The scorching conditions have severely disrupted daily life, with school-going children among the most affected. Parents have begun demanding the closure of schools up to Class V as a precautionary measure to protect children from rising heat stress.
City Life Altered by Heatwave
The impact of the heatwave is visible across the city. The ghats of Sangam wear a deserted look soon after sunrise, as people avoid venturing out during peak hours. Parks also saw very thin attendance. However, groups of young boys can still be seen visiting the riverbanks to cool off in the water. By late morning, roads and marketplaces appear largely empty, with residents preferring to remain indoors to escape the harsh sun.
There has been a noticeable surge in the sale of heat-protection items such as gamchas (cotton cloth), caps, and sunglasses. Vendors dealing in green shade covers have also reported increased demand, as people look for ways to shield themselves from direct sunlight.
Community Support and Historical Context
In a display of community support, many residents and organisations have started offering free drinking water at major crossings and outside their homes to help passers-by cope with the extreme weather. Notably, the current spell ranks among the most intense in recent years, with the hottest April day since 2014 recorded on April 29, 2022. The continuing rise in temperatures has raised concerns of prolonged heatwave conditions in the coming days.
