'Salubrious' was the oft-used word to describe Bangalore's climate. Unfortunately, with the changing city, today, the antonym insalubrious, seems to be more apt.
When mercury hit the highest at 37.6 degree centigrade on Thursday, the climate became intolerable and if one goes by the Meteorological office, then, metaphorically, it would soon become a close cousin of Death Valley, California, which holds the record of the highest temperature on earth. The Met office said, “In the next ten days, the temperature can go up by another two degrees. Till the monsoon hits the city by June first week, it is going to be hot.”
Salil, a graphic designer, who moved to the city for his graduation a decade back and stayed on owing to the great weather said, “It is really sad that the climate of the city has undergone such a drastic change. When I first came to Bangalore, it was heaven. After I finished my studies, I stayed back because of the great climate. Today, it has become unbearable.” Last year, this month, the temperature in Bangalore was 35.2 degree centigrade. Met office attributed this raise in temperature to the many weather related factors like amount of cloud cover, rainfall, solar radiation, wind (the Northerly and the Easterly).
Over the years, the summer temperature in the city has been gradually increasing. Here are few more testimonies. Says Akhila, an IT professional, “Four years ago, when I came to the city, I would wear a light jacket and carry a stole around to keep me warm, even in summer. Now, it has become extremely humid, and I feel drained and lethargic at the end of the day."
Same is the case with Deepika, a lawyer. She said, “Few years back, I used to long to see the sun. It was cloudy throughout the day and summer was a brief affair. I used to wrap myself in shawls and jackets. But this summer is the hottest I have known in Bangalore. It is so humid and I am seriously considering shifting to another city.”
So, the fact remains that the sun is generously smiling upon Bangalore these days, as the city has uprooted many of its trees, development has morphed it into a concrete jungle, vehicles have benevolently polluted it, water bodies have all dried up, lakes have disappeared; all converting the city into an oven, lament the city residents.