BENGALURU: In the wake of rising temperatures and the discomfort citizens are experiencing on a daily basis, experts said this is the right time to undertake a detailed and dedicated climatological assessment for Bengaluru. The aim is to know how much development and temperature the city can handle.
Researchers from IISc and EMPRI said Bengaluru is gradually going the Delhi way in terms of weather and climate. “The high altitude, which was once an advantage, is not helping any more due to the increasing concretisation. Bengaluru’s growth was not a planned process, and its long-term impact is now being experienced. We can go on complaining, but scientific data is required to channelise growth, and studies are being undertaken,” said a researcher from Divecha Centre, IISc, requesting anonymity.
An official from Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) said data of relative humidity, rainfall, temperatures, air quality and population are essential for the assessment. “We have been warning the government of heating disasters, but it has paid no attention so far,” said the official.
KH Vinay Kumar, the director of research at EMPRI, said Bengaluru once had the title of being an air-conditioned city, but now, air-conditioning has become a necessity in the summer. People do not realise that, along with the increase in concretisation and vehicular population, ACs also contribute to the rise in temperatures. A study is required for controlling the city’s growth, he said.
Prof TV Ramachandra from Centre for Ecological Sciences at IISc said, “In the report Urban Heat Island Linkages with Landscape Morphology, we pointed to unplanned developmental activities, increased paved surfaces and urban heat island effects as some of the prime reasons for high temperatures.
The solution is simple – reduce concretisation, decongest the city, create mini-forests with native trees of at least 2Ha in every ward and reduce glass buildings. Blatant violations of the National Green Tribunal’s directions have now led to the rise in temperatures.”
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Bengaluru on Monday recorded a maximum of 35.6 degrees Celsius, 1.6 degrees Celsius higher than normal. On Sunday, the maximum temperature was 34.5 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in 2025 was 35.4 degrees Celsius on April 25. The minimum temperatures have also been on the rise. The minimum temperature recorded on Monday was 24.2 degrees Celsius, 2.2 degrees Celsius higher than normal.
IMD officials have warned of a further rise in temperatures in the coming days. CS Patil, a scientist with the IMD, said, “Temperatures will increase further. There is a strong anti-cyclonic circulation over Karnataka and central India, due to which cloud formation is not taking place. The heat island effect in Bengaluru is also adding to the discomfort.”