- As you are aware, it is a commonly accepted viewpoint that South India is generally considered to possess moderate temperatures, unlike Northern parts of the country. Yes, summer months in the Southern part of the country could be equally stifling and the heat generated during these months is excruciating. Especially with the urban dwellings witnessing unprecedented developments over the years and the loss of greenery to accommodate the ever-increasing demands. Nonetheless, the pre-monsoon showers preceding the actual arrival of southwest monsoon used to be a common phenomenon bringing in much-needed relief from the summer heat. The summer holidays used to be exciting for all of us anticipating monsoon to arrive.
PC: HT PHOTO
- Now, one of the fallouts of the mind-boggling developments, innovations, inventions, and growth witnessed over the last few decades on the back of a technology-driven push has severely impacted the harmonious weather patterns of yore. Environmental degradation around the globe has succeeded in not only overturning the regular weather phenomenon but also has contributed to introducing hitherto unknown events like El Nino and El Nina leading to unprecedented and unseasonal floods, rains, snow, heatwaves, droughts, and some such patterns. Despite every government around the world laying overwhelming emphasis on ensuring the environmental damage is controlled, the weather patterns have been erratic at the best of times.
- Look not far from India, which is primarily an agriculture-based economy, wherein the monsoon plays an extremely crucial role. Any irregular weather patterns not only severely impact the economy but also further stress the already under-duress policymakers to come up with suitable countermeasures. Take for instance how the southwest monsoon has played out in India in the last two months. A few states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh received excess rains whereas several other states including the Northeastern states have received deficit rainfall. Even though the overall rainfall exceeded the expected percentage registering a surplus in July, the depressingly dry August month has posed challenges everywhere.
PC: HARIPRIYA SUREBAN
- People living in the garden city of Bengaluru must be witnessing one of the driest August months since the rain gods have hardly blessed us with rain. If people of Bengaluru who have lived for decades dig their memories to recollect when the last driest August month was, they might have experienced it, the majority will be unable to come out with any answers. Because it happened more than a century ago. The salubrious weather of Bengaluru has been steadily declining to resemble a few of the Northern states. The excruciating heat courtesy of vehicular movements and pollution combined with the loss of green cover has turned the once-garden city of Bengaluru into a concrete jungle. Is there a way out? I don’t think so. Brace up for challenges!
