Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 5: While the risk of ultra-violet radiations has gone higher in last one week causing direct impact on the health of people in plain areas and Kandi belt of Jammu region, the day temperature of Jammu today reached 44 degree Celsius, which is nearly 5 degrees above normal.
A MeT office spokesman said that today, season’s highest temperature of 44 degree Celsius has been recorded by Jammu city’s (North) observatory. He said it is 1.4 degree Celsius higher than yesterday’s temperature. Normal temperature of the day in city should be around 39 degree Celsius. Today’s temperature was five degree Celsius above normal. Hardly few days back, on June 3, the maximum temperature in the city was 40.2 degree Celsius.
The heat waves swept across the plain areas of Jammu region including Akhnoor, R S Pura, Bishnah, Hiranagar besides Samba and Kathua, while the winter capital city experienced the hottest day of this season.
The spokesman further disclosed that the maximum temperature in the city shot at least five notches above average to 44 degrees Celsius, making it the season’s hottest day so far. He disclosed that during last year (2013), June 6 was the hottest day with 42.1 degree C temperature. In 2012, June 21 was the hottest day with 45.2 degree C temperature. On June 8, 2003 the highest temperature of 45.1 degree C was recorded in Jammu.
But the record of June 12, 1953 with day temperature in Jammu as 47.2 degree Celsius, could not be broken so far. On May 23, last year (2013), Jammu recorded 45.8 degree C temperature, which was highest in last 25 years during the month of May. During this year, the temperature in May remained almost below 40 degree C due to frequent rains, he added.
Winter capital city recorded a minimum temperature of 26.2 degree C today while Srinagar city a maximum of 29.7 degree C and minimum 13.2 degree Celsius. In Leh, the day temperature remained 25.0 degree and night 8.4 degree Celsius. Udhampur recorded a minimum of 19.8 degree C and maximum 39.4 degree C while holy township of Katra a maximum of 39.8 degree C and minimum of 26 degree Celsius.
Weatherman predicts that there would be further increase in temperature in next few days and the day temperature may go up by 45 degrees.
As mercury has started soaring high, the scorching heat wave have brought the normal life in Jammu city to almost grinding halt as most of people prefer to remain indoor, in the comfort of coolers and air conditioners at homes during the day. Most of the roads and lanes in the city and other major towns like Samba, Kathua, Akhnoor, Vijaypur etc wore deserted look. With rising temperature, the rush at city canals has also started picking up.
Chief Scientist SKAUST-Jammu associated with the MeT Department, Dr B C Sharma when contacted disclosed that Jammu’s temperature has gone about 5 degree C above normal while the intensity of ultra-violet radiations has also gone higher than the normal, which is harmful for the living beings. Against the normal below 1 MED, these radiations have gone considerably higher.
Replying to a question, Dr Sharma said these waves are exposing people to the risk of skin cancer, brain stroke and other ailments. The people must avoid direct radiations especially during the afternoon when the intensity waves are higher. Even under such scorching heat conditions, there are maximum chances of heat stroke to the people, animals and even the birds.
He disclosed that the school going children or the labourers working in the open sun are more prone to this kind of risk. The general public should take more precautions under such hot conditions and farmers should keep their cattle indoor, protecting them from direct radiations, he added.
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