CHENNAI: Despite having a promising start with thick dark clouds covering the city skies giving an impression of bringing good rains, the mercury breached 40 degree Celsius for the third consecutive day.
Though few areas close to the sea have received mild showers, most part of the city and its suburbs battles yet another day of intense heatwave like condition.
The Nungambakkam weather station had recorded 40.1 degree C, while Meenambakkam was sizzling at 42 degree C.
If not the for the morning clouds, weather experts feel the temperature would have touch 43 degree C in Chennai. To give an example, Pondicherry came close to breaking its all time record of 43.1 degree C during the blazing 2003 heat wave. The serene UT did not have morning clouding and the temperature kept rising reaching its day high at 42.70, which is the hottest day since last 15 years.
K Balachandran, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said the morning clouds were unexpected and did moderated the heat to an extent. The north westerly winds will keep coastal and northern parts of State in the grip of heatwave for another day or two. “I will not be surprised even if temperatures go four degrees above normal. In places close to Andhra border, where few places are under the grip of severe heatwave, the temperature would record over 50 above normal,” he said and added that it is an interplay between land breeze and sea breeze.
Thiruttani again recorded highest maximum temperature at 44C followed by Vellore 43.4C. Met officials say th temperature would recede by the end of this week.
Farmer dies over wilting crop
Thanjavur: A tenant farmer died on Wednesday allegedly because of the shock of seeing his crop wilt. Kalaiselvam (48) of Vettuvakkottai Thattankollai had taken the land from a nearby village on lease and cultivated summer paddy with the energised pumpset. Because of frequent power cuts and depleting ground water, he couldn’t irrigate and the crop started to wilt.
On Wednesday, when Kalaiselvam went to his field, he swooned on the field. Passersby took him to a hospital where he was declared dead.