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IMD issues heatwave warning for Pune
The city recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday
The city recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a heatwave warning for Pune and central Maharashtra from May 20 for the next 72 hours.
The city recorded a minimum temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.
On Sunday, Lohegaon recorded 41 degrees Celsius, 4 degrees Celsius above the normal maximum temperature.“Pune and parts of central Maharashtra have been witnessing a rise maximum temperature since the past couple of days. For the next two days, IMD Pune has issued a ‘near to heatwave’ warning for the city,” said Anupam Kashyapi, head, weather, IMD.
Chandrapur recorded the highest temperature at 45.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday while Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Solapur, Nanded and Beed recorded temperatures between 44.2 and 44.9 degrees Celsius.
“Scattered as well as severe heatwave conditions will be witnessed in parts of Vidharbha,” said Kashyapi.
He added, “The heatwave will lessen after Thursday, and maximum temperature will remain more or less around 40 degrees Celsius.”
‘Green cloth covers’ provide relief to riders
To offer respite to commuters while travelling through the city roads in summer, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Hemant Rasane has erected sunshade at ten major squares in the city.
The temperature in the city is soaring and it would be difficult for two-wheeler riders to wait at the traffic signals.
Keeping this in mind, Rasane came up with the idea of erecting cloth covers at important traffic signals.
“We have been seeing that people were finding it difficult to bear the heat while waiting at the traffic signals. So we decided to do something about it. Such kind of experiment has already been done in Nagpur by central minister Nitin Gadkari and has been successful. On a trial basis, we are putting up the cloth covers at three major chowks and other chocks would be covered later. The green cloth shields the citizens from the harmful rays of the sun ,” said Rasane.
As of now, green cloth covers have been tied at Faraskhana chowk, Appa Balwant chowk and City Post chowk. The cloth cover has been tied from all the roads connected to the chowk providing shelter to people. Ashwin Kamthe, a two-wheeler rider at Appa Balwant Chowk said, “It is a good initiative by Rasane. The cloth cover provides the much-needed shade during the hot summer days. When we travel through the day in summer, it affects our body. This cloth cover will provide relief for people who don’t have an option but to do in the sun.”
